Yao Choy Saely

HE WAS BORN IN MUNG SING, NAMTHA PROVINCE IN 1928. HE WAS ALSO KNOWN BY HIS TRADITIONAL CHILDHOOD NAME OF CHENG LUANG, AND IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: HIS FATHER, MOTHER, STEP-FATHER, 2 BROTHERS, 4 SISTERS ALONG WITH HIS FIRST WIFE, MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN, LAI KUON AND HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER, MUANG CHOY.

YAO CHOY WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE DEEPLY LOVED BY HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, COMMUNITY, AND BY ALL WHO MET HIM; ALWAYS READY TO GREET ANYONE WITH A LONG EXTENDED FRIENDLY DOUBLE HAND-SHAKE. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, NAI KWEN, HIS TWO DAUGHTERS, LIO CHOI AND PET CHOY, 2 SON-IN-LAWS, 10 GRANDCHILDREN, 28 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN AND 18 GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ALONG WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE SPOUSES/PARTNERS.

YAO CHOY IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1980 WHERE HE QUICKLY DISCOVERED THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING WHICH KEPT HIM ENTERTAINED THROUGHOUT THE DECADES; EVEN MAKING UP HIS OWN NAMES FOR EACH WRESTLER AND HIS OWN STORYLINES. LANGUAGE WAS A BARRIER BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE FUN- THAT’S WHO YAO CHOY WAS. HE FOUND THE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE BLOWING BUBBLES TO BE JOYFUL IN LIFE. IT WAS EASY TO LOVE HIM AS YOU ALWAYS FELT HIS NATURAL, INFECTIOUS LOVING WARMTH SURROUND YOU.

HE WILL BE MISSED!

A funeral service for Yao Choy will be held Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Ross Hollywood Chapel, 4733 NE Thompson St, Portland, OR 97213. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service at 1:00 PM at Brainard Cemetery, NE 90th Ave, Portland, OR 97220.