Hideko Tuttle

After enduring a long, hard battle with Gastric Cancer, Hideko "Heidi" Tuttle left this world peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, to meet her Lord in Heaven on July 23, 2018.

Hideko was born November 29, 1954, in Mito, Japan to Kiyoshi and Hatsui Koyano.  She had a wonderful relationship with her younger brother, Minoru, whom she never quarreled with.  Hideko considered her mother to be her best friend.  Growing up, she enjoyed playing the piano, twirling baton with her school team, and spending time with her sweet Pomeranian "Pony".  From her earliest years, Hideko always had an interest in the "English" language.  She was determined to advance in every English class available to her and to learn everything she could about America.  She became a foreign exchange student in her college years and attended Oklahoma Christian College.  She loved soaking up all that OCC had to offer.  One of the best decisions in her life happened during her stay in Oklahoma:  becoming a Christian.

Hideko met her husband, Robert Charles Tuttle, in the college cafeteria.  He would tell you it was "love at first sight" but she would say otherwise.  They became pen pals and wrote each other for 7 years.  Robert enlisted in the Navy, got stationed in Japan, and asked Hideko to marry him.  A perfect Hallmark moment and the rest is history.

Becoming a Navy wife was the beginning of her life adventure.  Hideko moved back and forth from the United States to Japan during her husband's 20-year military career.  In 1985 their first daughter, Jennifer Yoko, was born.  Followed by another daughter, Keiko Michell in 1986, and finally their son Steven Paul Yoshito in 1987.  Hideko was a near perfect mother and a wonderful homemaker for many years.  She enjoyed sewing, arts & crafts, watching Hallmark & HGTV, and shopping!  Christmas was her favorite holiday.  She loved collecting gingerbread-men and making new Christmas ornaments every year.  Although she eventually went back to work for the Navy housing department in Sasebo, Japan and then worked for Beverly Manor and Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, she continued to keep an immaculately clean home, cooked yummy Japanese comfort food, and loved spending time with family.  While she was often quiet, she was resilient and hard-working, had a love for God & family, and enjoyed being everyone's "Mom".   She was an amazing wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and strong follower of God.  But aside from the Lord, she loved her family more than anything in her existence.

Hideko is survived by her husband Robert of 34 years and her daughters, Jennifer & Michell and son Steven.  She will be deeply missed by the multitude of lives she has touched, but happy that she is in Heaven!

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at IWV Church of Christ on Saturday August 4 ^th , 2018 at 10am.