Kiyoko Morishita Laws, 96, of Prescott, passed away peacefully at 4:42 a.m. on August 21, 2026, at the Springs of Hillcrest nursing home in Prescott, Arkansas — the same place she had spent 32 years caring for others, and the place that, in the end, cared for her.
Kiyoko was born on August 3, 1930, in Kyoto, Japan, the second daughter of Yoshinosuke and Kiku Morishita. She grew up in the Kitazono-cho district of Kyoto, just a short distance from Kyoto University, where she later became a graduate herself and went on to serve as secretary to the dean. It was a role and a place she was deeply proud of, and it reflected the intelligence, discipline, and grace that would carry through every chapter of her life.
In 1954, Kiyoko married Jewel Allen Laws, an American citizen, and left Kyoto to build a new life with him. Together they raised five children, living in the United States and Europe before settling in Arkansas, where Kiyoko became a beloved and unforgettable presence in her community.
Kiyoko grew up practicing Buddhism in Kyoto and continued in that faith until the family moved to Laneburg, where they began attending the Church of Christ in Prescott, Arkansas. It was there that Kiyoko was baptized, embracing a new faith just as she had embraced a new country and a new life.
For 32 years, Kiyoko worked at the Springs of Hillcrest nursing home, where caring for residents was not just her job but her calling. She often brought homemade Japanese dishes to share with her coworkers, delighting in introducing them to the flavors of her homeland. She was known and loved for her warmth, her generosity, and her famously honest opinions — Kiyoko said exactly what she thought, and those who knew her wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Kiyoko was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jewel Allen Laws, and her son, Roy Laws.
She is survived by her children: Danny Laws of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Patsy Tavenner of Texarkana; Bonnie Laws of Chelan, Washington; and Billy Laws of Texarkana.
She is also survived by her grandchildren: Tony Hiatt and Joe Hiatt, children of Bonnie Laws; Chris (Cara) Boyette and Blair (Kevin) Edmondson, children of Patsy Tavenner; and Kacie (Kennith) Ford, Kayla Laws, and Jaxon Laws, children of Billy Laws. She also leaves behind her great-grandchildren, Zeb Hiatt, Daisy Boyette, Gunner Ford, and Kaden Ford, along with a large extended family and countless friends whose lives she touched.
Kiyoko’s life spanned three countries, two cultures, and nearly a century of love, hard work, and honesty. From a university office in Kyoto to a nursing home in Arkansas, she spent her days caring for and looking after others — and in doing so, she left an impression on everyone who crossed her path.
She will be deeply missed, and forever remembered for her strength, her wit, her cooking, and her unwavering, unfiltered love for her family and everyone she cared for.
A private family burial will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home of Prescott.
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