Jim Akio Yoshihara

Jim or “Yoshi," 87, of Lafayette, passed away peacefully with his devoted family by his side. He left behind an incredible legacy built on his strong work ethic, never-ending generosity, and his kind and gentle demeanor.

Born in Venice, CA, to Yasutaro Yoshihara and Kumiko Ishii, Jim was the third of five children. His family made their living as vegetable and strawberry truck farmers. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which forcibly relocated and incarcerated 125,284 Japanese Americans who were deemed a security threat. Jim was taken to Camp Amache in Granada, CO, along with his family, where he lived behind barbed wire from the ages of three to six.

After the war, Jim and his family settled in Lafayette and operated a fruit and vegetable stand. They purchased a dilapidated greenhouse, which became Lafayette Florist, a pillar in the community. Jim grew up working long hours before and after school, often delivering flower arrangements to the mortuary on his bicycle. As a teenager, working on cars and car racing were his passions. On any given weekend, Jim could be found racing on the streets of Lafayette, Erie, and Boulder, throwing water balloons into friends’ cars and even outrunning the police. Oh, how he loved his 1939 Chevy 2-Door Sedan and his 1958 Chevy Impala!

Jim started dating the love of his life, Maryann Manners, his senior year of high school. They were head-over-heels in love, but their relationship was forbidden by both families, which made them feel like “it was us against the world.” Jim enlisted in the army at 17 and served for three and a half years, stationed at Fort Carson, CO, Fort Hood, TX, in Germany, and at Fort Knox, KY. He hitchhiked several times from Texas all the way back to Colorado just to see Maryann for the weekend. They got married on December 22, 1962, at the Lafayette Methodist Church, a continuation of their storybook romance. Jim attended Colorado State University, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Art. Jim’s daughters, Jo-Lynn and Machal, were born in 1966 and 1972.

In 1976, Jim started his own flower shop in Boulder, Artists Three Florist, Ltd., also known as Flowers by Yoshihara. For the next 30 years, he had a myriad of loyal customers and became known for his ikebana arrangements, high-styles and his unmatched creativity with flowers. After Jim retired from the flower business, he went to work at VIA Mobility, where he provided kindness and a listening ear to all; he was loved dearly by his passengers. “Yoshi” was awarded Driver of the Year in both 2015 and 2016. He was honored to receive the VIA Mobility Boulder County Multicultural Award for Community Service in October 2018.

Throughout his life, Jim viewed the world through an artist’s eye. His passion for acrylic painting remained strong. He loved to stretch his own canvas, make his own frame & paint large, abstract pieces of art for his family, which they so proudly display in their homes. He was a devoted CU Buffs and Broncos fan, often seen around town in his CU sweatshirts. His knowledge of football statistics was impressive, and no one could pound on a coffee table cheering for the Broncos like Jim could. We will miss our rowdy times watching games and listening to his favorite country artists: Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and David Allan Coe (he loved the jail birds). Jim believed that anything could be fixed with elbow grease and a little grit.

Jim referred to the period after Maryann passed away (2011) as his “winter years.” He spent these days with his daughters – thousands of dinners at their homes, enjoying his favorite Japanese food (mackerel and chirashi) while dining out, art museums, movies, and treasuring the simple pleasures with his family and grandkids. He spread love by baking his scrumptious apple, cherry, chocolate, and blueberry pies for family and friends. They were loved by all, and he became known as the “Pie Man.” To learn more about Jim’s life, please check out his Oral History from the Lafayette Public Library.

Jim is survived by daughters Jo-Lynn (Quinn) and Machal (Terry); grandchildren Sam (Melisa), Max (Lindsay), Wesley, and Emma; great-grandchildren Auggie and Athena; siblings Joyce Tani, Ann Murphy (Bill), and Don Yoshihara (Lisa).

We will be having a celebration of Jim’s life in early January 2027. Please join us for a heartfelt gathering to share wonderful memories and stories from days past. Venue, date, and time TBA.

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to:

Sister Carmen of Lafayette (www.sistercarmen.org)

Longmont Humane Society (longmonthumane.org)

Amache Preservation Society (amache.org)