Obituary of Tani J. McReynolds

Tani J. McReynolds died peacefully at her home on January 4, 2024, in Scotts Valley, California, at the age of 96. Tani is survived by her husband of 71 years, Robert F. McReynolds of Scotts Valley, California; daughter, Janet Griffin of Boulder Creek, California; son, Gerald McReynolds of South Pasadena, Florida; grandchildren, Stephanie Griffin Koch and Jeffrey Griffin of San Francisco, California; great-grandchildren, Kai Dean-Griffin, Elliot Dean-Griffin, Silas Koch and June Koch of San Francisco, California; sister, Soyoko Asano of Tokyo, Japan; and brother, Minoru Ogura of Tokyo, Japan. She is preceded in death by her sister, Kimi Nakano, of Tokyo, Japan. Tani was born “Miyoko Ogura” on January 25, 1927, in Tokyo, Japan, to Ichiro and Shina Ogura. She married Robert F. McReynolds in 1952, who was serving in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Japan. They met at a ballet recital where Tani was a dancer and were married two years later. After marriage she immigrated to the United States and became a U. S. citizen, at which time her name was legally changed to “Tani Joan” McReynolds. Tani’s husband Robert served in the Air Force for 20 years, and they were stationed in various parts of the world, making many friends, American and foreign, with whom they kept in touch with over the years. After spending the first three years of their marriage in California, where their daughter was born, they were transferred to Japan, where their son was born. After returning to the U.S., they lived in Washington state and California before they were stationed in Germany and Cape Code, Massachusetts. Robert retired from the military in 1968 and the family settled in San Jose, California. After retiring from her employment as a manager in retail sales, Tani and Robert moved to Boulder Creek, California, in 1988 to be near their grandchildren, whom she adored and helped raise. When their home burned down in the 2020 CZU wildfire, they moved to their current home in Scotts Valley, California. Tani was a life-long lover of classical ballet, as well as classical music and opera, attending many ballets and operas through the years and re-learning how to play the piano. She took Japanese painting and calligraphy lessons, which she became especially skilled at, and her art pieces are cherished by her children and grandchildren. She was also part of a group of older Japanese women who took lessons in the “enka” style of Japanese singing. She would perform at recitals with a beautiful singing voice, even though she was in her 80’s. Tani’s appreciation of dance manifested in her attending Jazzercise classes regularly for many years until age 90. Tani had a vivacious and outgoing personality. People were attracted to her beautiful smile and spirit, and she always looked and acted much younger than her actual age. She was much loved by her family and friends, and she will be greatly missed. Private interment will be at the Santa Cruz Memorial Cemetery, 1927 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, California, on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 1 PM at the Inn at Pasatiempo, in the Pasatiempo Room, located at 555 Highway 17 South, in Santa Cruz, California.