Resident of San Jose

Merrily Nobuko Kobashi was born in Stockton, California on August 15, 1942 and passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 in San Jose, California. Daughter of John and Alyce Shimakawa. She is survived by her husband Isao and son, Brett. She was predeceased by Todd, her youngest son.

Merrily spent her early years in Cleveland and went to grammar and high school in Stockton, California. She graduated from San Jose State in 1964 with adegree in teaching. She taught the third and fourth grade for five years during which time she made lifelong friends. Merrily met her husband Isao at afaculty dinner and they were married in 1967. They were married for 56 years.

The two bought their first home in 1974 in San Jose and have lived continuously at that address.

Merrily was a person of many talents and interests. She started making Cabbage Patch doll clothes and eventually created a successful home party plan. She also sold jewelry and loved to take friends and clients to purchase jewelry. She traveled around the world from Israel, Greece to Japan and Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii, but her favorite trips were the many catamaran trips to the Bahamas and nearby islands and the gourmet horseback trip to the eastern Sierras. She was proud of saying that she learned to snorkel at the age of 65. She also loved to play tennis and won many tournaments and made numerous lifelong friends.

Per her request, no funeral service was held. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation be made to the ASPCA, PO Box 96929, Washington, D.C. 20090-6829.