March 25, 1925 – November 14, 2025
Cherry Yaeko Ishimatsu, a 100-year-old resident of Sakura Gardens in Boyle Heights, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2025. She was predeceased in 2005 by her loving husband, Raymond Shigeo Ishimatsu. She is survived by her three children, Gail, Bruce and Mark Ishimatsu; her 5 grandchildren, Victoria, Haley, Grayson, Conor and Avery, 2 great-grandsons, Bennett and Miles, and many nieces and nephews.
Cherry was born in Sanger, California in 1925. At age 17, she was incarcerated in Jerome, Arkansas during WWII with her Yoshimura family. She was the last survivor of 9 siblings raised by Tadao and Misuyo Yoshimura. She married Raymond Ishimatsu in 1948 and moved in 1949 to Indio, where they raised their family and farmed in Mecca, California as I.K.I. Farms with Raymond’s brother and father in Northern California.
Cherry dedicated her life to her family and to public service on local and state levels. She worked for the Coachella Valley Unified School District for many years. In addition to being active with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, Cherry was a founding member of California Women for Agriculture (CWA) and was appointed by Governor George Deukmejian to the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board. Cherry was a founder of the Japanese Garden in Indio in 1986 and started the Candy Striper hospital volunteer and scholarship program in Indio. Cherry lived a full life dedicated to her family, community and charitable organizations as a respected leader and public servant.