Yoko Parsons, who was also known as Yoko Crooks, Yoko Parsons-Crooks, Sunshine, Mom, Grammy and Grandma Yoko, was 71 years old when she transitioned from this life on December 19, 2021 at her home in Fountain Valley, California surrounded by her family and caregivers.
Yoko was the middle child born in Nishishinmachi, Hiroshima, Japan, on December 14, 1950 to Sadayuki Maeda and Hayami Nakagawa. Her siblings are Sadami Ozaki and Suzuko Fujihara of Japan.
Yoko was a free spirited mischievous child who always had a twinkle in her eye as if she knew things others around her did not know. She developed a love for the United States from her mother and loved to listen to music and practice her English on any American she could find. One of the Americans was an American Army soldier Ronald G. Anheluk, whom she married and had her first child son Michael R. Anheluk in 1968 while still in Japan, Soon after they shipped off to the USA and settled in Kansas where she gave birth to her daughter Barbara Ann Anheluk in 1969. They moved to Orange County California where she later married Kenneth Parsons in 1974 and gave birth to her youngest son Bryan Scott Parsons in 1976.
She became a US Citizen in 1983 and divorced Mr. Parsons in 1986, where she then dedicated herself to working and going to school fulltime while raising 3 kids as a single mother. She earned her first Bachelors Degree in Business from CSU Long Beach. She worked in Import/Export and started her own business named Sales Marketing Service. During the late 80s she decided that she needed to change careers to enable her to help vulnerable populations and promote social justice. She returned to CSU Long Beach and earned another Bachelor's degree in Social Work and immediately applied and was accepted to the Masters of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Southern California (USC). After graduation, Yoko began her social work career in the Adoptions unit within the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for Los Angeles County.
While working at DCFS, Yoko was introduced by fellow classmate to the person who would be with her for the rest of her life, Hugh Crooks Jr. People often remarked about how much they loved each other and enjoyed each other's company, and it was clear that their connection was exceptional. They were immediately inseparable, and in 2004 were married.
When Hugh became the Commander of the State of California for the American Legion, Yoko became the Legion's First Lady and the first Asian First Lady from California in the history of the American Legion.

As they traveled through the state of California, Yoko served as Hugh's planner, confidant and chauffer, while simultaneously locating almost every Casino in the state. When they weren't doing Legion business, she and Hugh enjoyed getaways at their vacation home in Laughlin, Nevada, where they had an opportunity to gamble and relax.
Yoko loved to travel, and missed her family in Japan and wanted them to finally meet Hugh, so in 1996 they made it happen and flew to Japan, They also traveled to Hawaii twice, Cabo San Lucas, Las Vegas and to many State and National Conventions around the US.
Yoko was very creative and made all her kids and grandkids personalized Christmas stockings, she was quite an accomplished knitter, crocheter, seamstress, and all things arts and crafts.
Yoko became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and became aware that there was no 17th District in the Auxiliary, as it had been deleted 20 years prior. Through her collaboration with Departmental President, Anita Biggs and others, she was instrumental in reinstating the District and starting Chinatown Unit 628. She became the District's first President. She served numerous positions and was available as a mentor to others as she continued her work in the Auxiliary. She was honored when asked to be a charter member of Unit 309 when it was formed.
Yoko worked for Los Angeles County DCFS for 23 years as a Social Worker maintaining positions in Adoptions, Training, Emergency Response, and finally as a Supervisor in the Asian Pacific Unit. She was a highly respected and regarded employee who always made child and family welfare a priority and was consistent in her adherence to policy, protocol and procedures. She retired in early 2017 as her medical condition made it difficult to work.
Yoko was preceded in death by her parents, and her first grandson Christopher Anheluk. She is survived by her husband Hugh, her sisters Sadami and Suzuko, her children Michael (Kelly White) Anheluk of Corona Ca., Barbara (Javier) Arenado of Huntington Beach Ca. and Bryan Parsons of Virginia, a stepdaughter Wendy (Leo) Ashley of Los Angeles, Ca., her grandchildren; Dannelle Anheluk of Riverside, Kelsea, Kyler and Kayden Arenado of Huntington Beach Ca., Roman and Lilyana Parsons of Virginia, and Leo and Evan Ashley of Los Angeles Ca., great granddaughter Marissa Villasenor of Riverside Ca., her caregivers Manuel Gomez and Tracy Ice of Fountain Valley/Riverside Ca., and a host of nieces and nephews.
Yoko was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, mother-in-law, aunt, stepmother, daughter-in-law (she made sure that her mother-in-law was able to celebrate her only birthday party in 80 years), grandmother, great grandmother friend, co-worker and supervisor. She freely gave to others. Whomever encountered her would remark about her smile, charm, honesty and intelligence. She is loved and she is missed.