Jessica Starr Fujimaki

Mrs. Jessica Starr Fujimaki 42, of Surprise, Arizona passed away on December 10, 2022, in Surprise, Arizona. She was born on June 02, 1980, to Roxane Yocum and Phillip Barto in Chantilly, Virginia.

Jessica graduated from Judson High School in Paradise Valley, Arizona where she met her future husband, Tad Fujimaki. Tad attended Judson High School as a boarding student from Japan and Jessica attended as a day student and they became high school sweethearts. Eventually they got married on July 25th, 2007, on Haleiwa Beach in Hawaii. Jessica attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California and then attended D’armi Esthetic University in Scottsdale Arizona. She also obtained her real estate license while living in Hawaii.

There is no easy way to describe the person Jessica was. Jessica was a soul beyond description and full of life, humor, and a presence that demanded attention. She loved to get dressed up and go out on the town with her friends. Even when she was struggling, she rallied so she could have just a few more good memories with her family and friends.  Jessica brought a distinctive energy into every room she walked into and was the life of the party. She was naturally silly and funny. There were many nights when Jessica and her girls would stay up late into the night laughing so hard their sides hurt and they were out of breath. Jessica had a collection of silly headbands she would wear around the house and once sat in the closet and tried on different ones for her girls opening the door between each and making puns about her headbands “Are you feeling wild today? Or you feeling stripes today? Are you feeling like picking cherries today? Or maybe you’re feeling peachy.” She went on and on until they couldn’t contain their giggles any longer.

Jessica loved her girls “to the moon and back”. She loved to be silly with her daughters and always prioritized quality time with her girls, even when she was sick. She never asked for a kiss from the girls but instead would tell them to “pucker UP”.

Self-expression was one of the most important things for Jessica and she wanted her girls to be able to express themselves while still being kids so she came up with all of these little rules for her girls. For Aiyana some of hers were “you can wear mascara but only on the top lashes never on the bottom ones” and “your dangly earrings are your weekend earrings, not for school.” For Kalina “you can wear your long nails during weekends and breaks but not to school”. She taught Kalina how to straighten her hair with the flat iron even though her arms hurt from the effort, taking breaks in between the sections. As she always said to Aiyana “beauty is pain!” Her love for her daughters was pure and unconditional even when they had their disagreements, Jessica was always there for her girls. She called her daughters her angels.  In a recent text message to Aiyana, she wrote “You melt my heart my angel and even when we have disagreements, I Always adore and love you no matter what!”  She is now their guardian angel and will love and watch over them every day of their lives.

Jessica loved people. She could talk to anyone about pretty much anything. A room full of strangers wouldn’t remain that way for long if Jessica had anything to say about it. Not even a language barrier could stop her. She always managed to find some way to communicate so no one was left felt out. Jessica was great at making new friends; people just really loved her and were drawn to her everywhere she went. Family and true friendship were so important to Jessica and were the driving factor for all she did.

Ballroom dancing was one of the other major loves of Jessica’s life. She went by Jessica Starr for all of her competitions because Jessica truly was a Star while performing. She won many awards throughout her life for her dancing and even in poor health Jessica took her daughters to Ballroom Dance events to watch others perform. She loved her dance studio, located in Scottsdale Arizona, and greatly missed the days when she could glide across the dance floor freely without a care in the world.

In the last few years while Jessica’s health began to worsen, she created new hobbies for herself to keep her spirits bright. She began painting and created quite a few works of art to decorate her new home here in Arizona. She also began collecting crystals. No matter how large or small the crystals were, she loved them for their healing energy and beauty. She continued to prioritize spending time with Tad and their girls and even made time to visit with her close friends. Even when Jessica couldn’t give her all, she gave the most precious thing she could give, she gave her time and her presence.

Jessica is survived by her spouse Tad Fujimaki; her daughters: Aiyana Starr Fujimaki, and Kalina Lily Fujimaki; her mother Roxane Gleghorn; her brothers: Casey Gleghorn, Justin Gleghorn, and Michael Wingate; and her Mimi Judy Yocum. She leaves behind her service dog Stormi, her other dogs: Chloe and Louie, and many dear and close friends.

Jessica was preceded in death by Nanny-Peg Barto, Pappy Ralph Barto, and Pappy Jack Yocum.