Michael K Chow

Michael K. Chow was born on December 21, 1946. He was 68 when he died of a nearly two-year battle with cancer. He fought bravely, and he was surrounded by loving family throughout his illness and at his time of death at Houston Hospice.

Michael grew up in Canton, China. His family was poor, and they struggled, but despite this, he caught fish, rode bicycles, played with other kids, and he shared many adventures with his siblings, especially his younger brother and best friend, Johnny. Michael ventured to Macau and Hong Kong as a teenager to seek out better opportunities and to help support his family.

Michael met Linda Kwan in Hong Kong in 1963. She would eventually become his wife. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1966, with his mother Yin Dea Chow. They lived with his uncle who taught him how to run a grocery business in Greenwood, Mississippi. He returned to Hong Kong to marry Linda, and together they traveled back to Mississippi. While a new immigrant, other than learning how to run a business, Michael enrolled in school to better learn the language, history, and customs of the United States of America. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1971.

Michael completed a technical education at Mississippi Delta Community College in 1973. Michael was a technical genius, earning his education in HVAC and in radio & television repair in only two years, when these courses of study would normally take a total of four years to complete. In 1973, he entered a competition of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America and helped his team win first prize in Radio & TV Repair, the first-time ever for the State of Mississippi in this competition. His performance was so impressive that he received a letter from President Richard Nixon. He became a Certified Electronic Technician, a Journeyman of the trade, by the National Electronic Association in 1974.

Michael and Linda opened a small grocery store, Southside Market, in 1975. In addition, he ran an electronics repair business and became famous throughout the Mississippi Delta for his talents at fixing televisions, radios, record players, and various audio and video equipment. Michael loved fishing and being outdoors. His hobbies included photography and video, and he was an early adopter of the technology of the time, including the earliest personal computers. He enjoyed watching Loony Tunes cartoons, PBS programs, and nature documentaries, and he loved the old cowboy movie, Shane. He enjoyed having insightful and pleasant conversation on almost any subject with almost anyone he knew.

Michael was a family man and an informal leader in the Mississippi Delta Chinese community. He gave endless support to his siblings who eventually immigrated to the U.S. and most of them also opened small grocery stores in the area. Many other Chinese families in Delta sought advice from him on various matters. Michael and Linda had an active social life in the Chinese community, and they attended many banquet celebrations and community gatherings in the Delta.

In 2004, Michael retired and moved to Missouri City, Texas, outside of Houston. Most of his brothers and sisters soon followed, and they again had many adventures together.

He is survived by: his loving wife, Linda K. Chow of Missouri City, TX; his siblings, brother Sonny Chow, sister Wing Tim Yung, brother Johnny Chow, all of Missouri City, TX, and sister Tammy Joe of Memphis, TN; his children, son Michael M. Chow of Pasadena, CA, daughter Melinda Chow of Austin, TX, and son Mark Chow of Austin, TX; nephews and nieces, Ken Yung of Jackson, MS, Lisa Kadyk of Portland, OR, Sam Chow of Madison, AL, Jason Chow of Missouri City, TX, Sherman Chow of Austin, TX, Justin Chow of Houston, TX, Lindsay Joe of Nashville, TN, and Braden Joe of Orlando, FL; and finally his grandson Bruce Chow of Pasadena, CA.

A service will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home at 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas on October 22, 2015, at 10:00 AM.