Emi Y. Bake

Emi Bake, 89, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, February 29, 2024. She was born on March 28, 1934, in Nakijin, Okinawa Japan.  Emi was one of eight children of Kamachiro and Matsue Yonamine.  In the late 1950’s she met Phil Bake, when Phil, a member of the US Air Force stationed on Okinawa, went to the small tailor shop in which Emi was a professional tailor to have a suit made.  They soon fell in love and were married on June 25, 1957.  Thereafter, Phil and Emi had two daughters, Lori and Jana.  In 1968, Phil’s military service brought the family to Hill Air Force Base, Utah where they stayed following Phil’s retirement from the military.

Emi was an accomplished tailor and she opened Emi’s Alternations in Layton, Utah.  Emi built a thriving and well-known business for many decades, serving the community and creating a wide reputation for quality work coupled with warmth and kindness to all she met.  Though she eventually sold Emi’s Alternations, that business survives today under the same name, a legacy which brings a smile to her family’s faces whenever they pass by that shop.

Emi loved to garden, and she created a beautiful Japanese style garden which surrounded her home.  She was accomplished at Japanese crafts such as creating detailed display geisha dolls and framed needle point art, cake decorating and flower arranging.  She also loved Japanese music and played the shamisen and koto.   She was a founding member and former president of Utah Okinawa Kenjinkai, a social club for Okinawans in Utah.   As a member of the club, Emi often performed traditional Okinawan music at festive public events.

Conversant in both Japanese and English, from time-to-time Emi found herself in the position to provide translation service to unique business projects in the Davis County area, most notably providing such services to the parties involved in the construction of the Sun Hills Golf Course.

Most of all, Emi loved her family. Emi was a wonderful and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She also was an exceptionally devoted friend to many, but especially to those in the Japanese community in Davis County, the members of which have rallied around her for many years.

Surviving Emi are her two daughters, Lori Padilla (Danny), and Jana Bake (Alex Walker); four grandchildren, Dan, Ty, Jami and Jake; great-grandchildren, Trayden, Kaija and Makai; her sister Tomi, her many nieces and nephews, and her faithful canine companion, Kana.  Emi was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers Susumu, Akira, Kazuhiro, and Kunihiko, and her sisters, Hatsuko and Yoshiko.

Emi’s family is grateful to friends and neighbors who helped care for Emi during the years of her declining health, and is especially grateful to dear family friend Gregg Buxton, Emi’s physician Dr. Robert Taylor, his assistant Becca Mahoskey, the staff at Fairfield Village Assisted Living, the staff from Inspiration Home Health and Hospice, the staff from Enhabit Home Health, and health care specialists McKenzie Bright and Seong Barnes for their exceptional services and kind support of Emi and her family.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah.  Friends and family may call at a viewing Sunday March 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service at the mortuary. 

Interment to follow at Lindquist's Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.