Masami Takayama Wilkes passed away October 13th, 2024, after a long valiant battle with cancer.

Masami was born June 4th, 1958, in Nishinomiya Japan the eldest of two children to Masayuki and Kikuko Takayama. She was a fearless natural adventurer, whose wanderlust led her to Los Angeles, California where she met her husband, Kent Wilkes. Together they had three beautiful daughters that were the light of Masami's life. She loved her three little girls with a fierceness that never ebbed. She tried to instill in each of them a love of travel, Japan, and learning.  To help her daughters understand their Japanese heritage, Masami brought her small family to live temporarily in Nara Japan where to her delight her children were able to learn Japanese.  In 2003 they moved back to the United States and made her husband's hometown of St. Charles, Idaho their home.

In Idaho, Masami worked hard at her small family business, and raising her children. She was immeasurably proud of her three daughters and the women they became. Her greatest joy in life was the time she was able to spend with them and her beloved grandsons.

When Masami was diagnosed with cancer, she was determined to fight the disease and live her life to the fullest.  She traveled extensively in those seven years, determinedly checking off many items from her bucket list.  Her determination was an inspiration to those that were lucky enough to know her.

Masami was preceded in death by her parents Masayuki Takayama, Kikuko Iwata Takayama, and her sister Yoshie Takayama.  She is survived by her beloved husband Kent Wilkes, Daughters Rina (Josh) Giudicelli, Meg (Kota) Nishimura-Wilkes, Emi (John Ipsen) Wilkes, her treasured grandsons Henri, Remi, Toki, Tyse, and Koda, and numerous in-laws.

As Masami desired, there will be no formal service.  Family will be honoring her life privately.

Masami's life was cut too short, but she fit more living into those valuable years than most.  Her passing leaves a hole in our lives that can't be filled, but we can take solace in the fact that she is no longer in pain and lives forever in our hearts and minds.