Nobuye (Nobie) Matsuyama passed away peacefully on February 20, 2025 in Ventura, CA. Nobie was born on July 6, 1925 to Tokuma and Kuma Tabata. She grew up in Santa Barbara on Milpas Street just a short distance from Santa Barbara High School. As a result of World War II, when Nobie was a sophomore at Santa Barbara H.S. she and her family were sent to an interment camp for Japanese-Americans in Gila River, AZ where she earned her high school diploma. In 1999, after a Dos Pueblos student wrote an essay on Nobie’s life at Gila River and through the students efforts, Nobie was able to fulfill her dream and “walk down the hill” in a graduation ceremony with the Santa Barbara Dons Class of 2000 as a 74 year-old “high school graduate”. This event was covered by KEYT news station and the Santa Barbara News Press.
Nobie, her husband Jiro, along with her brother in-law, Kik and sister in-law Mariko, owned and operated K.M. Nursery in Carpinteria, CA for 45 years after moving from Gardena, CA. Nobie loved to attend the Carpinteria Fireman’s Mother’s Day pancake breakfast with her young family, volunteering to help with the CA Women for Agriculture plant sale and having afternoon coffee with her friends.
Nobie is survived by her sons Bob Matsuyama (Rachel) and Jim Matsuyama (Dot); grandchildren Brian, Monica, Tyler, Tanner, Thomas and Andrew. Grandson Isaiah and numerous nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by her husband, Jiro; parents Tokuma and Kuma Tabata; daughter Nancy Narasaki; brother Joseph Tabata; sister Jessie Watanabe. The family wishes to extend our gratitude to the memory care staff at The Palms at Bonaventure care facility.