I wanted to offer a thought of condolences and sympathy to May's family.  I was sorry to learn of her passing. May and I became friends when we attended Phoenix Union High School so many years ago.  She was such a kind, funny, and  thoughtful friend; a  real such a joy to be around. I remember the time she gave me a pair of decorative slippers that were sent to her from China.  I still have them as a remembrance. Even though we lost touch after many miles separated us, I have never forgotten May. She will be greatly missed.

Our prayers and condolences to Steven, Susan, Spencer, Scott and the rest of the family.  May God comfort your hearts and bless you now and always.

William and Joanne Ong 

Today I had to say goodbye to my sister-in-law, May Yee. She was a warm and kind person. She is also a good cook. She would give me ideas on how to cook and how to make food look more artistic. She also gave me suggestions to make the task easier. She makes the best turkey and it was very moist. She roasted a turkey for church potluck the Sunday before Thanksgiving every year until she was not able to do it. I miss her turkey recipe which I will never be able to duplicate. 
I would be negligent if I did not talk about May’s generosity. My daughter, Jennifer, was taking piano lessons but did not have a piano. She practiced her songs on a 61-key keyboard. Her teacher encouraged us to get a piano. One day I was talking to May on the phone when she heard Jennifer was playing a song on the keyboard. May was impressed with Jennifer’s playing and inquired about her piano playing. When I mentioned that Jennifer we do not have a piano, May offered us her piano which she said has been gathering dust. We had the piano moved to our house and Jennifer had it moved to her house after she got married. Now my granddaughter Sienna is taking piano lessons and using the piano. Jennifer was so appreciative of the gift that she invited May  to one of Sienna’s recital. 
I will miss May. I am honored to have her as my sister-in-law. She is finally reunited with her husband Gary. May will also see her mother and her brother Ken, my husband. 



It was an honor to stand as a ring bearer for Aunt  May and Uncle Gary’s wedding so many years ago.
Dearest Aunt May, I will always remember your calming voice, hospitality, beautiful cursive handwriting, distinct laugh and wonderful humor. 
Childhood memories take me back when our family visited the Yee family in Tucson. Waking up to the smell of your delicious breakfast sausage and hash browns make me hungry even today. I remember that on the last day of visiting Tucson before our family headed back to California, I may have faked a bellyache to prolong our stay because I did not want to leave just yet. Your calming voice and hospitality made me want to stay longer to play with my cousins.
Your wonderful humor coupled with your laughter reminds me of a steak dinner at Tucson‘s Pinnacle Peak. I was told as a youngster, that in order to be allowed to eat at this restaurant that I would have to wear a shirt and tie to be seated with the family. I recall sitting at the table when all of a sudden there was loud cheering and a waitress approached me from behind with the largest scissors I have ever seen... beneath my nose, she proceeded to cut off the bottom 2/3rds of my brand new blue and white gingham tie that I wore for dinner. I was mortified! Aunt May, in your humorous ways, you proceeded to explain to me the NO TIES ALLOWED policy in the restaurant and that I was set up for this joke. I was distraught when my tie was cut off but I enjoyed seeing my tie hung up on the rafters in the restaurant.  This memory brings a special smile to me today because I recently visited Tucson and took my wife and children to Pinnacle Peak and had my picture taken in front of the restaurant. I wish I could have shared this photo with you. Even more amazing is that with my mom’s wonderful scrapbooking, I recently found the original photo of over 40 years ago when my tie was cut off!
You will be missed, but I am happy that you and Uncle Gary are reunited in our Savior. 

I was so privileged to have been part of May and Gary's wedding party so many years ago, and even then, it was so obvious that Gary was so deeply in love with his bride who became his wife when she said "I Do".   As a young married couple, they moved to Tucson where Gary started as a teacher at Rincon High School and like most young couples, their first home was pretty modest.  When I visited their first home, you didn't notice the furniture, the decor, the color of the paint, or anything else,  but knew instantly that this place was filled with the aura of two people who were meant for each other.  As they both worked so hard in their careers, they moved to a bigger house, but their love for each other never changed.  What did change was the addition of two sons, Steven and Scott, to the family who were absolutely adored by both parents.  While Gary may have been the engineering and technical guru of the house, it was very clear that May's artistry, sense of style, and overall touch of warmth and grace filled the house with the type of love yearned by all, and found by few.

There is an adage that reads:  "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."   When life became so unfair with Gary's health, there was no one with more courage than May.  When the family moved back to Phoenix and opened up their video store, it was so common to see the whole family there.  May and her two sons gave such exuberant love and compassion in taking care of Gary.  As the matriarch of the family, she threw her heart and soul to ensuring that Gary and the boys remained as a family throughout.  It was courage in action.

 How can a woman of such love, grace, compassion, and kindness be taken away from the ones she loved?  Only God has a plan.  If there is any solace at all, she left those here in a better place.  She is now reunited with Gary as they did so many years when both said:  "I Do".

I have been so thankful for all our family and friends for their support throughout this time of sadness.  To hear such kind words and stories regarding how everyone remembered my Mom throughout her life has truly showed me that she had a life lived well.  People remind me how they loved her temperament and her humor and that she was always kind and giving.

I think of Ecclesiastes 3:4. As for us here we are in a time to weep and mourn for our loss.  But to think in heaven they are laughing and dancing with joy as this gentle, dutiful, beautiful and ever faithful soul has returned home.  It brings me joy to think that she is finally reunited in heaven with my Dad after 30 plus years and how much I know she has missed him after all this time.

I look back on my Mom’s life, she brought laughter and joy to so many and has set a strong example of her unwavering faith to all those who observed her.   To sum her up I can always say she gave unselfish love via service to others.  From raising my brother and I after my father’s illness, providing for our needs, taking care of my father’s health needs and helping whenever she could to anyone who needed her help.  She didn’t ask for anything in return she was a true cheerful giver of self.

With the COVID lockdown it saddened my family that while she was under great care at the hospital that we could not be by her side, but I am grateful that at the end my Brother and I were able to be by her side as she transitioned from this world to the open and loving arms of our Lord.

I will always miss my Mom and her love, humor, guidance and most of all her friendship.

Dear Scott and Spencer and Family,

Our deepest condolences and sympathy to you and your wonderful Family.  I have known your Mom since we attended The First Chinese Baptist Church Sunday School when your Mom was 6 and I was 5 yrs old and we went to ASU together!  Many warm memories of your Mom and Dad's beautiful wedding and get togethers! Your Mom's legacy of kindness, love and Family lives on!  

Wishing you God's peace and comfort during this difficult time.

Our Aloha,
Dr. Wendell & Susan Foo and Family

OBITUARY

May Gan Yee

October 24, 1947 – January 14, 2021

Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery

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