Seizo Miya

Seizo Shay Miya

May 31, 1925 ~ October 22, 2015

OGDEN – Seizo Shay Miya, age 90, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 22, 2015. Shay was born May 31, 1925, in Sunset, Utah, a son of Seikichi and Tsune Miyagishima.

He married Toshi Yano on April 7, 1953.  They had two children, Michael and Joy.

Shay grew up farming; the family had a small farm in Layton and later purchased a larger farm in Warren.  After buying equipment to level the farmland and build dikes along the Weber river in Warren; Shay and his two older brothers, Sam and Shin started Miya Brothers Construction Company, an earthwork, highway and road construction business.   After 40 years, the two older brothers retired and Shay started Miya Construction Company.  Shay served as a Board of Director for the Associated General Contractors of Utah. In 1996, he received the Eric C. Ryberg Award, AGC’s highest award for lifetime service to the construction industry.  Also, as a devoted member of the Ogden Japanese Christian Church he was an Elder and served as a Board Member.

Always a farmer at heart, Shay maintained a garden, even at 90, where he grew vegetables and flowers.  He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.  He was most proud of his grandchildren and enjoyed the time they spent together.

Shay is survived by his son, Michael of Ogden; grandsons, Christopher and Matthew; daughter, Joy (Jeffrey W. Titmus) of Bountiful; grandchildren Miya and Carter Titmus; sister, Kimi Mae Ogino (Mitch Ogino) of Monterey Park, California; and his cherished nephews and nieces.

Shay was preceded in death by his parents, Seikichi and Tsune; wife, Toshi; sister, Isoko Nakatani; and brothers, Sadao Sam Miya and Shin Miya.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.  Friends may call at the mortuary prior to the service from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Internment, Ogden City Cemetery.