Shimae Chang

Shimae W. Chang, 89, Parker, passed away on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Peakview Assisted Living in Centennial, CO. A native of Nishikatsura-machi, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, she was the eldest child to the late Hifumi and Shigeko Watanabe. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, Philip S. W. Chang. 2018 would have been their 50th anniversary. After her father died at an early age, Shimae began to work in Tokyo when she was 14 years old to support her family. She got a job as a housemaid in 1949. She used to work for the late Army Major General Marcott, a GHQ staff member. She married and had her son, Takahiko, in 1953. In 1963, she began to work as a switchboard operator at Camp Zama, where she met Philip Chang, a U.S. Army Signal Corps sergeant. They married in 1968. Her daughter, Melissa, was born in 1969 at Camp Zama. Shimae moved to the United States in 1970 with her husband Philip when he retired from the Army. Settling in Southern California, she was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She was an excellent cook and seamstress, making most of the family’s clothes for many years. Shimae also knit, crocheted, embroidered, did macramé and decoupage (it was the 70’s), and any other craft she put her mind to. She had already earned a Japanese flower-arranging certification (Sogetsu style) and studied tea ceremony. A long-time member of Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Mission Viejo, CA, she participated in UMW, the Senior Group helping to fold weekly bulletins, and supported other church activities with her time and talents. In 2011, Shimae moved to Colorado to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law and most especially her grandson. She attended Simpson UMC and Smoky Hill UMC while living in Colorado. Shimae leaves behind to cherish her memory her children and their spouses, Takahiko & Mutsumi Watanabe, Japan, and Melissa & Alec Lee, Parker; her grandson, Jason Lee; her siblings, Tokuji Watanabe, Sachiko Sekido, Masao Watanabe, and Kikuko Horiuchi. Many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews also survive. A memorial service to honor the life of Shimae W. Chang will be held at 3 pm on June 18th, 2018 at Peakview Assisted Living. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to: Kawasaki Kids Foundation, https://www.kawasakikidsfoundation.org/donate/