Leland Harry Murotani

 Leland (Lee) Harry Murotani was born in Bakersfield, California on July 14, 1952 to parents Gaishi (Guy) and Yoshiye Murotani. Lee passed away in his home where he was born and raised on September 22,2024. He was 72. 

 He was a product of Bakersfield’s educational system beginning as a kindergartener at Munsey Elementary, transferring to Harris Elementary when it opened in 1960. He then went to Curran Junior High and West High graduating in 1970. He received his AA degree from Bakersfield College, went to CSUB to study Biology, and finished at San Joaquin Valley College. 

 He worked a variety of jobs using his varied knowledge from scheduling pest control treatments on experimental seed alfalfa and pest control in general, to electrical work. 

 Lee loved playing cards at family gatherings and hanging out with his dogs when he got home from work. Some of his favorite free time activities were hanging out with his cousins and lifelong friends fishing, hunting and bowling. He was a man of few words, but anyone who knew Lee, knew that if you needed help with something, he would show up to help out whenever and wherever you needed him. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. 

 Lee is preceded in death by his parents Gaishi (Guy) and Yoshiye Murotani, brothers Edward, Wayne, and Ronald Murotani. He is survived by his sister, Susan (John) Koulos, sister-in-law Kathy Murotani, nieces and nephews, Heather (James) Brown, Megan (Boyd) Harper, Amy (Roy) Kline, Joshua (Anthony) Baer, Courtney (Micheal) Veatch, Ryan Koulos, and Benjamin Murotani.