Ayako (Kikuchi) Matsumura

Ayako Kikuchi Kilburn Matsumura, 92, of Fayetteville, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021. 

She was born June 22, 1928 in Tokyo, Japan to Hisao and Chiyori Kikuchi and moved to the United States in the early 1950s.  She worked as a telephone operator prior to coming to the US, and worked a number of years at Kings Point Mfg. Co. and M. J. Soffe Company here in Fayetteville.

Ayako is a member of SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International-USA), the largest Buddhist community in the US. 

She loved her family and traveling to spend time with them.  She loved life, country music, dancing, and being with people.  Ayako was a great cook of both Japanese and American dishes, and enjoyed knitting and crocheting.  She especially loved going to the beach and fishing with her husband, Raymond.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her stepdaughter, Iris Kurzendoerfer.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond Yoshizo Matsumura; children, Junko Kilburn O’Connor (Thomas), Richard Kilburn (Daphne), and James Kilburn (partner, Nikki Thompson); stepchildren, Ray-ann Dufer, Ivan Matsumura, Dean Matsumura, and Carol Matsumura; grandchildren, Thomas O’Connor (Heather), Michael O’Connor (Courtney), Alison Cronheim (Greg), Nicholas Kilburn, and Alexander Kilburn; great grandchildren, Olivia O’Connor, Parker Rose O’Connor, and Brooks O’Connor.

A Memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 2 pm in the Jernigan-Warren Chapel.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.  www.alz.org.

Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

Online condolences may be sent to www.jerniganwarren.com

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