Mickey Yamada Mcquinn

Michiko "Mickey" McQuinn, age 90, passed away peacefully December 12, 2019 in Granada Hills, California. She was born on March 16, 1929 in Shiroishi, Japan. After World War II, Mickey began working as a phone operator at a U.S. military base where she met Maurice McQuinn, an Army supply sergeant. The two married in Tokyo on February 2, 1952. Maurice preceded Mickey in death on May 13, 2002.


After giving birth to their first son Harold, Mickey and Maurice moved to the United States. While living in Monterey near Fort Ord, Mickey gave birth to her daughter Sonia and second son, Robert. Mickey became a successful barber by obtaining a license and starting her own business after Maurice retired.


Mickey was a woman of many talents, which she always shared with her family. She painted, cooked and gardened. She was even an esteemed writer with several published articles in Japanese publications. Her family absolutely adored the road trips to Salinas where they would spend hours with Mickey in her kitchen and tomato garden. Mickey had several recipes that everyone raved about: gobo, onigiri, apple cake and a Japanese-inspired potato salad which lives on through her sons.


Although her daughter passed away in 2007, Mickey is survived by her sons Harold, Robert, her six grandchildren and one great grandchild.



Mickey's family will be celebrating her life Saturday morning December 21, 2019, 9:30 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant House, Northwestern Settlement House or a charity of your choosing in Mickey's honor.