Harry Nobukazu Okahashi passed away peacefully in his home on July 23, 2024, in Columbia,Tennessee. He was 80 years old.
Harry was born in the territory of Hawaii, prior to statehood, to Helen Hisae Kamahiro on July 15,1944. He attended schools in Lihue and Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a Waikiki Beachboy for several years, teaching tourist how to surf the waves by day and singing and playing music on his ukulele with other beach boys, under the banyan tree at night. Harry moved to San Francisco, California to explore other options for his future. From there he moved to Pensacola, Florida where he built bass fishing boats and eventually worked for the Department of Defense at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He did fiberglass fabrication and windscreen assembly on fighter jets and helicopters for many years. He fell in love with the critical care nurse who was taking care of his mother in a Hawaii hospital. He transferred to Hawaii working for GSA at Hickam Air Force Base. Harry married Joyce Williams on April 19,1997 in a small family service in Palm Harbor, Florida. After retiring from GSA in 2000 and then Joyce was hired by Vanderbilt in 2006 and they moved to Columbia, Tennessee.
Harry is preceded in death by his mother Helen Anderson, his sister Lorraine Hoaeae and grandson Dillon Sanderson.
Harry is survived by his loving wife Joyce Okahashi, his children, son Wade (Kelly) Okahashi, daughter Brandy (Jeremiah) Sanderson, son Derek (Michele) Okahashi, sons Chris Williams and Phillip Williams.
Brothers, Richard Kaeo, Arnold Anderson, Brian Anderson and sisters, Terry Ihu, Linda Silva, Cindy McKnight, Debbie Robertson.
He has many grandchildren, Duke Okahashi, Dane Okahashi, Mallorie Okahashi, Kiani Lynn Brothers, Matthew Holmes, Alec Okahashi, Kaili Okahashi and Devin Okahashi. Harry has 4 great-Grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews in Hawaii .
A Celebration of Life will be held locally in the future and Harry’s ashes will be spread in the Pacific Ocean in a traditional Hawaiian paddle out ceremony with his loving Ohana and friends off of his favorite surf spot.
Memorials in Harry’s memory may be sent to Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home, 5239 Main Street, Spring Hill, TN 37174.
The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the nurses and chaplain from Amedysis Hospice.
