Charlotte Hirata

Charlotte Hirata passed away peacefully on Sept. 10, 2024. 

 Charlotte was born Oct. 9, 1932, in Gresham, Ore., to Takeji and Fumiko Hoashi. She was the oldest of four children.

 At the age of 9, she and her family were forced to leave their home in Troutdale, Ore. and were interned to Minidoka Relocation Center in Hunt, Idaho from 1942 until their release in 1945 when she was the age of 13.  From there, the family moved in short succession to Notus, Idaho, Oregon Slope, and Nyssa, Ore., where she graduated from high school in 1950.

 After high school, Charlotte attended the Nampa Business School, and her first job was at the Caldwell Stockyard.  

 She was married to Eichi Hirata on April 12, 1953, in Portland, Ore. and settled near Hood River, Ore. where she gave birth to her three boys, Harvey and twins, Eugene and Ed.  

 She later divorced and moved her three boys to live with her parents in Weiser, Idaho in the summer of 1962.  

 Charlotte loved to travel taking trips with her sons and little brother Ike and traveled to various places around the Northwest and California.  

 As the boys got older and on their own, she would often visit them including visits to Japan, Washington DC and southern Idaho. She once traveled to China to see the Great Wall of China and Shanghai. She loved to talk about her road trip with her friend, Francis Shoda, across the U.S. and Canada to Niagara Falls in Francis’s red convertible.

 Her last full-time job was with the Weiser School District as the Clerk of the Board supporting the superintendents Tom Falash and later Jim Reed and the school board for 26 years starting in 1969. She really enjoyed working with administrators and the teaching staff and watching the young students grow to be adults. 

 After retiring, she drove for Interpath Laboratories delivering medical specimens from around the Boise area and Northeast Oregon for 13 years.

 She managed to find time to be a member of Citizens on Patrol (COP) and loved playing cards with her friends every Thursday. It was especially difficult for her to weigh in before her Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meetings, but it was worth it as they all went out afterwards for snacks. Her other talents included oil painting and a proud long time member of the Four County Art Guild. 

 She was also a member of the famous Bootscooters who performed line dancing entertainment at various sporting events and requested venues around the Treasure Valley. She especially enjoyed being front and center, leading the group through their dance routines.

 In her last few months, she entered the Grace Independent and Assisted Living Facility in Fruitland which she really loved. She fully enjoyed the activities, friends and the tender, loving care from the staff.  

 Charlotte has many times said she loved the community of Weiser and was the happiest here with the many friends she had made during the past 61 years.  

 Charlotte is survived by her sons Harvey (Rhonda) and Ed (Doreen) of Weiser, her brothers George Hoashi of Weiser and Ike (Debbie) Hoashi of Fernley, Nev., grandchildren; Stephanie (Lane) Huff of Sykesville, Maryland, Matthew Hirata of Spanaway, Wash., Jeff Hirata of Crofton, Maryland, Brooke (Aaron) Sperry of Nampa, Idaho and Jay (Katie) Hirata of Meridian, Idaho; and 11 great-grandchildren. Nephews Ryan and Brit Hoashi; nieces Wendy (Christoph) Erdhardt, Lisa (Manell) Hoashi-Bancel, and Allison (Drew) Hoashi Temple.

 She was preceded in her death by her parents Takeji and Fumiko Hoashi, brother Roy Hoashi, and son Eugene Hirata.

 The family will have a private graveside service at Hillcrest Cemetery.  All friends and family are invited to Charlotte’s Celebration of Life at the Weiser Vendome Events Center on Friday, Oct. 11 starting at 11 a.m. followed by a catered lunch.

 Arrangements under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home.