Way Horn John Jee

Way Horn (John) Jee joined his wife in heaven on June 22, 2011. He was born on October 10, 1922 in China and immigrated to the US in 1939 as a young man of 17. He worked in the family business in rural Mississippi until he was drafted to serve in the U.S. army in 1942. John fought in the Pacific Theater during WWII with the 19th Infantry, seeing action in New Guinea and the Phillipines.

After the war, he returned to China where he married Yoke Wah, his wife of 62 years. They lived for a short while in Mississippi but moved to Houston in 1949. He was an entrepreneur, running a small grocery store in the Fourth Ward for almost 20 years and then a small restaurant. He spent his early retirement years working part time for the Quillian Memorial Center, where he made many friends among the staff and program participants.

John was a quiet man who loved to putter in his garden and sit in front of his garage and watch the world go by. He particularly loved children, possibly because he was always one himself at heart. This made him a good grandfather because he anticipated his grandkid’s need of candy and toys and always had some available when they visited.

He was preceded in death by his wife Yoke Wah, son John and daughter Brenda. He is survived by his daughter-in-law Rochelle Jee, grandsons Mark and Jonathan Jee and great grandchildren Arianna and Issac of Ft. Worth; daughter Virginia Jee and granddaughters Jessica and Katherine Williams of Sugar Land; son Melvin and wife Elizabeth Jee, and grandchildren Theodore and Callie of Whitinsville, MA.

Family will receive friends June 30 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 1 at 10:00 AM at the same location with interment to follow in the Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chinese Baptist Church in Houston.