Obituary of Haruko "June" McAtee

Haruko (June) McAtee was born to Kazuma Nishikawa and Mito Tanaka on April 10, 1926, in Osaka, Japan. She was one of 9 children.

She married SFC Wilbur E. McAtee on May 25, 1954, in Kobe, Japan. They were married for 53 years before his death in 2007. She and Mac moved to the United States in 1956 where the new mother and new English learner lived in three states before settling in Seaside, California.

Haruko was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was cute and small, yet a powerful force in the lives of those closest to her. Her love for her family was always evident through food, gifts and her playful and, at times, biting sense of humor. Even as she aged, Haruko always took the time to put on make up and dress well. Small things like cowboys, cherry blossoms and sales brought her joy.

In the last days of her life, she saw all three of her children and let go peacefully in her sleep. Haruko told her children and grandchildren that she wished to shut her eyes and never wake up, like the old Japanese stories. On January 22, 2024, she did just that. She is greatly missed and remembered by all.

Haruko is survived by her daughter Toni Spradling, son-in-law Bob and sons John and Willard McAtee; her grandchildren John, Emily and Rebekah, and their spouses Leah, Stacy and Frederick; and her great grand children Grayson and Grant.

Haruko and her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to those who cared for her in the last year of her life: Adrian and Brookdale Manor of Carmel, Maria L. and the Hospice of the Central Coast and all those who have prayed and supported the family.