September 30, 1942 - January 6, 2022
David Masayuki Oye passed away peacefully at home in Nanaimo on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the age of 79. David was born to Sachiko Oye and Masayoshi (Frank) Oye in Greenwood, B.C. on September 30, 1942.
He moved to Ucluelet with his parents and three siblings, Suzie (Keiko), Naomi and Ken, in 1949 so that his father could continue fishing after the World War II coastal ban on Japanese Canadians was lifted. During his early years in Ucluelet, he enjoyed going to the beaches and picking seaweed with his grandmother, and swimming at Little Beach and Kennedy Lake. His first job was working on his father's fishing boat at the age of 13, and he continued to work at the fish plants around town until he finished high school. After high school, he worked as part of a mine survey crew at a nearby mine for several years, then moved to the Lower Mainland to pursue opportunities as a bookkeeper and draftsman. David eventually moved back and settled in Ucluelet in 1970, where he worked in the logging industry for 15 years and then the fishing industry for another 20 years. During this time, he married and had his three sons, Andrew, Sean and Aaron. He always had a strong work ethic and instilled this in his boys. He enjoyed taking his boys to go fishing at the local rivers, gathering firewood in the woods, and beachcombing at the local beaches. He was also an avid gardener and always maintained a beautiful garden.
David lived in Ucluelet most of his life and moved to Nanaimo in 2004 to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He eventually retired in 2015 and enjoyed his retirement gardening, creating woodwork, watching his large collection of movies, and spending time with his children and grandchildren, whom he adored. In his later years, he often reminisced about his fond memories of his family and his childhood in Greenwood, despite the circumstances at that time, and was able to find inner peace with his life.
He is survived by his children Andrew Oye (wife Tina, daughter Kianna and son Masayuki), Sean Oye (wife Julie, daughter Olivia and son Michael), and Aaron Oye (wife Lisa, daughter Keiko and son Linden), sister Suzie (Keiko) Corlazzoli (husband Silvestro), brother Ken Oye (wife Theresa), and the mother of his sons and friend Judy Magnussen. He was predeceased by his father Masayoshi (Frank) Oye, mother Sachiko Oye, and sister Naomi Oye Rogers.
His sons are grateful that he was able to spend time with all of his grandchildren and watch them grow. He loved and cherished his family and friends, and will be missed dearly by those that knew him.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Nanaimo Kidney Care Clinic, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and the Lakeside Gardens Senior Community for all of their support and care over the past couple of years.
A private ceremony will be held by the family to show their respects at a later date when the time is safe and appropriate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Kidney Foundation of Canada in honor of David.