Kwok Leung Ma

Mr. Ma Kwok Leung was born on August 12, 1926 in Hengshui Village, Taishan County, Guangdong Province, China. Educated in China, Kwok was a true renaissance man in mastering the art of calligraphy, photography, and violin playing.

In 1947, Kwok married the love of his life, Msn Wong Lai Keun. They had two daughters and four sons: Stephen, Helena, Maria, John, Tony, and Danny. Despite going back 25 generations in their hometown, daily life had become increasingly more difficult due to increased political uncertainty.

Kwok sought a better life for his family and the chance to do that began when he left for Hong Kong in 1952 to work as an accountant. Even then, he continued his passion for the arts, winning first prize at the Salon Art Shooting that year.

Worth the sacrifice, Kwok emigrated his mother, wife, and children from 'their hometown to Hong Kong two years later. Yet, greater opportunities were on the horizon. Kwok moved to Trinidad in search of work, and a few years later immigrated to New York City in 1960 where he worked as a cook in a Chinese restaurant.

Like many Chinese immigrant men at that time, Kwok came to the U.S. not to settle down permanently, but to earn money to support families back home. But the impact of the 1967 riots in Hong Kong sparked in Kwok another effort to protect his family and secure a better life in America.

Once again Kwok moved, this time to San Francisco, California where he hired an immigration attorney and applied for his family to join him in the United States. Overjoyed, Kwok was reunited with his family that same year.

Finally, together in America, Kwok and his family began their migration to the Pacific Northwest in hopes of living a simpler life. He and his wife Lai Keun moved their family to Pocatello, Idaho but soon found the area lacking in Chinese culture They move to Seattle, Washington the next year.

Kwok, Lai Keun and their children acculturated and adapted well into the Pacific

Northwest. Their new home was also close to Kwok's family, especially his parents who lived in Victoria, British Columbia, and an uncle also with a large family.

Kwok continued to work as a cook and soon was able to purchase a home in the Beacon Hill neighborhood with city and sunset views. There, he and Lai Kuen raised their family. For over thirty years in their home, they hosted a growing family for weekly family meals, holidays, and life celebrations.

In 2006, Kwok lost Lai Keun after 59 years of marriage. As a parent, the premature death of his son John in 2017 was unexpected and felt unjust. While the loss of his beloved wife and adult child stayed with Kwok throughout the remainder of this life, he found peace reading Chinese newspapers and fondly remembering his wife and son while listening to Chinese music every day.

Survived by sons, Stephen Ma, Tony Ma and Danny Ma; daughters, Helena Lam and Maria Ma; 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Although Kwok will be dearly missed as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, his family is happy that he is now reunited in heaven with his beloved wife, La Kuen Wong Ma and son, John Ma.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, April 11; 10:00AM in the Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home Chapel 11111 Aurora Ave N. Seattle 98133. Committal following, Washelli Cemetery.