Aiko Peggy Stone Strait

Aiko Peggy Stone Strait, 91, peacefully passed away on March 18, 2025, at home in Carl Junction after living a long, fulfilled life.

Peggy was born on January 27, 1934 to Masaru and Umeno Inouye in Kurume, Japan. She was the second of five kids, being the oldest daughter.  She lived through World War II, often telling us of the struggles living in wartime Japan.  After the war she took a job at US Air Force base Itazuke to improve her conversational English skills.  Her plan was to move to Hawaii with her dad to work.  She didn’t.  

While working at the airbase she met and fell in love with Shade Stone, our dad.  He was in the US Navy stationed there.  After they married they moved to the US settling in San Diego. This was followed by a move back to Japan then to The Philippines, then back to the US. In the US she lived in Beeville, TX, then Joplin and then Carl Junction.     

During the many moves she gave birth to three sons. The first two were born in San Diego, the third was born in The Philippines.  After settling in Carl Junction in 1968, she started working at Elder’s Shirt Factory, first in CJ then in WC. She met and married Herschel Strait in 1974. After Elders she worked at Lozier and Mid-Con Cables, finally retiring in 2010. 

Peggy attended Carl Junction Christian Church and received Christ and was baptized in October of 1970 by the Reverend Billy Groff. 

Peggy dearly and completely loved her family and friends. She enjoyed spending time with all of them.  She also enjoyed traveling, having made several trips back to see relatives in Japan.  She loved short trips too.  One of her favorite places were the casinos in Tupelo, Mississippi. She would go with Herschel and some friends often. But, her passion was her grandkids and great-grandkids.  She doted on them whenever she could.  She was also known to feed everyone.  Everyone and anyone that happened to stop by her house always got asked “You hungry?”  “You need to eat!”  “Was that eatable?”  She also loved flowers and her garden.  Her flowers were her pride and joy.   She loved going to Sasha and Josh’s house just down the street to see their jungle and pick free veggies!

Peggy was predeceased by her parents, Masaru and Umeno Inouye, brothers Masayuki Inouye and Katsumi Inouye, and sister Kyoko Inouye, her former husbands, Herschel Strait and Shade Stone. She is survived by three loving sons Steven (and Laura) of CJ, David (and Darryl Lynn) of Joplin, and Patrick (and Jennifer) of Joplin, grandchildren; Dustin Routledge, Taylor Stone, Carri Rowan, Sasha Aiko Cloud, Stephanie Pinion, Samuel Stone, Darrylann Stone, Matt Shank, Jamye Johnson, Hillary Edens, Jasmine Stone, Seth Brown, Steffan Brown, Jacelynn Newcomb, and over a dozen great-grandchildren, lots and lots of nieces and nephews, one sister Hideko Nozuru and many many friends. I don’t think she knew a stranger!

Peggy will be forever remembered and deeply missed. Visitation will be on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 1:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 pm in Carl Junction, MO. at, The Well United Methodist Church, 601 N Wells, Carl Junction.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park of Joplin, MO.