Soo May Yee's Obituary
Soo May was born in 1926 in Sak Hai County in Nam Sin village, China. Her father was Ou Nam Yan and her mother was Nam Lo Gin. She had two brothers, Siu Yip Yan and Dot Sun Yan. She was married to Ted Yee in 1947. Ted served in the Navy during WWII and after the war he went with his father to China to meet Soo May and married her in Hong Kong. She had four children: Janice Yee Fong, Margaret Yee Yuen, Stephen Craig Yee, and Judy Yee Toupin.
Soo May was a founding member of the Chinese Community Church in Berkeley, California. She was also a member of the Chinese Grace Baptist Church and Chinese First Baptist Church in San Francisco. She worked for over 25 years as a seamstress for Koret of California.
Soo May was active in SF Senior Center activities and enjoyed ballroom dancing, traveling, and playing mah jong. She was known for her generosity and hospitality.
She is survived by her 3 daughters Janice Yee Fong (son-in-law Dr. Steven Fong), Margaret Yee Yuen, Judy Yee Toupin (son-in-law John G. Toupin), pre-deceased by son Stephen Craig Yee. She will be greatly missed by her granddaughters Tricia Fong (spouse Danny Marquardt), Jennifer Fong, Pamela Sheng (spouse Edward Sheng), Stephanie Yee, and great grandchildren Malcolm Marquardt, Kai Marquardt, Mason Sheng, Ethan Sheng, Brielle Sheng, and Lia Yee. She is also survived by her younger brother Dot Sun Yan (spouse Siu Wah Tong Yan,) half brother Mun Chin Yan, numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grand nephews, and great grandnieces and great grand nephews.
Soo May slipped quietly away in her sleep Nov. 27, 2023. A private service will be held Wed. Dec. 6, 9-11am at Skylawn Memorial Park, Santa Cruz Chapel, Route 35 at Hwy 92, San Mateo 94402 followed by a memorial luncheon at Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum, 48 Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo, 94403. Memorial donations can be made to Chinese Grace Baptist Church, 900 Balboa St., San Francisco, CA 94118
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