Faye was born on January 26, 1937 in the Toisan area of Guangdong province near Hong Kong to father Yee Park Tong and mother Wong Gim Tang – both deceased.
After several years, her father, Park, returned to America to earn money to bring the family to the United States. Shortly after, Pearl Harbor was bombed, bringing the US into WWII. Park would serve in the US Army where his bilingual abilities would make him a valued asset in communications. Eventually he would be stationed in Free China, about 1,000 miles from his wife and daughter. Following the war he would be discharged from the US Army in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Faye spent her early years in Japanese occupied China with her mother, Gim. After WWII Faye and her mother were able to immigrate to the US because of the G.I. Bill and Park’s service in the army. The family would be reunited and in 1948 they moved to Tallulah, LA to be with Gim’s sister, Yate, and her family, George Wall, Sr. and many cousins.
The first years were hard having to adjust to a foreign language, different customs, strange food, and new family members. It was in Tallulah where Faye learned English and welcomed her siblings, Tommy, Hilton, and Millie (deceased), to the world. Faye would go on to attend Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA after graduating from Tallulah High School.
During a school break, she met the love of her life, “Jimmy” Chew M. Jue – deceased -, a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy. He was serving his internship in several pharmacies in Northeast LA when they met.
After several Sunday dinners at the Yee home, the match was made with marriage to follow. While there was happiness for the newlyweds, there was also sadness for the Yee family as Faye and Jimmy moved to San Francisco to be with his family.
In San Francisco, the couple joined a large and thriving Chinese community. They opened and operated West Coast Drug Company, a pharmacy at 7th Ave and Irving in the Sunset District and bought a house on 18th Ave. With Jimmy at her side she grew to enjoy the city, culture, weather, and diverse food. With hard work and sacrifice, the pharmacy grew and prospered. They sold the pharmacy and retired at an early age.
Over the years, many family members would visit and life was good. But unfortunately it wouldn’t last forever as Jimmy would be diagnosed with stomach cancer and pass away in 2012. With the support of her in-laws, Yort, Rosalina, and Mae, and their families, Faye remained in their home for several years. Eventually she realized she wanted to be closer to her siblings in Texas, with Hilton in The Woodlands, and Millie in Houston, and Tommy in McAllen.
After 50+ years in serene San Francisco, the move to The Woodlands, just north of Houston, was quite an adjustment with its 100º summers, humidity, hurricanes, and lack of public transportation. But with Hilton, Millie, and their families close by to help and keep her company the transition was easier.
Faye adapted and made new friends while enjoying her new lifestyle. She also learned she had some sophisticated taste buds that she put to use 2-3 times a week. But more importantly she also found a new love!!! His name is Billy Bob Gumbo Dancing Bear, a long haired, black and tan miniature dachshund, a rescue dog belonging to Alison, Hilton’s wife.
And while Faye was enjoying experiencing so many exciting new things, she also got to revisit her past. In 2018, Faye reconnected with family members she hadn’t seen in years during the Yee-Wall family reunion.
When health issues limited Millie from helping and socializing with her, Faye found herself spending more and more time with Alison. Even more, Faye found a she had a new sister who loved and cared for her. This bond of love and care would be invaluable when Faye was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Being a non smoker with no environmental exposure, the diagnosis was a huge shock. Though oncologists say that elderly Chinese women are prone to be afflicted, the news was nonetheless devastating.
An immunotherapy treatment plan was started and was initially successful. During her battle, family and friends would visit her often at her apartment and hospital room (prior to COVID). While Faye enjoyed and appreciated the support of her loved ones, she was always in good spirits when Alison would sneak secret “service dog” Billy Bob in her purse for a visit. After a valiant struggle, Faye succumbed to the cancer.
Following her wishes, Faye will be buried next to her beloved Jimmy in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, CA near San Francisco. Metcalf Funeral Directors of Conroe, TX will be handling the Houston preparations. Because of COVID concerns, memorial services will be postponed until safe. If you would like to be updated on the future memorial service, please email [email protected].
Donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society or to Dachshund Rescue of Houston, in honor of Faye Jue, at 19 Destiny Cove, The Woodlands, TX 77381.
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