James Jae Yoo

James Jae Yoo, was 84 when he passed away on Holy Wednesday, April 1, 2026 with his loving family by his side. On his last days, he said, “God is good all the time and I will see my Saviour in heaven.”

James was born August 10, 1941, in Kyoto, Japan of Korean parents. His early childhood was spent in Daegu, South Korea. During the war at a young age, he worked as a janitor at the American camp. Seeing how hardworking the young James was, an American serviceman John Ellis adopted him. James moved to Germany to pursue his High School and graduated at Augsburg American High School. Thereafter, he immigrated to the United States in 1960. He is a firm believer that education is a foundation for success, so he worked hard to finance and earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Denver.

He started his career as a teacher in history and German in Smithtown, New York where he met Linda Marie Buzicky and had a daughter, Stephanie Mi-jong Yoo. He became an executive of Carnation Company, now Nestle before becoming an entrepreneur. He owned several businesses, namely: JPY Development Co., a realty company; Ace Metal Company a metal trading and electronics recycling business; Construction Waste Management Co. and WOTC Scrap Metal Recycling in Alaska.

He is a community-oriented citizen and lobbied several bills for the protection of the environment and responsible recycling. In 2025 the Mayor’s Office of Mukilteo made a proclamation honoring Ace Metal Co. for Environmental Stewardship. He ran for City Council in 2017 and was appointed as a Commissioner of Mukilteo Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission for a three-year term. His vision for inclusion stretches far beyond by organizing the first Mukilteo Korean American Appreciation Day at Kamiak High School to donating violins to a school in Taesong-dong Freedom Village in South Korea. He is also one of the pillars of the National Association of Minority Contractors of Washington which provides equal business opportunities for minorities.

His philanthropic services expanded to the Philippines after he married a Filipina lawyer, Imee Vilches. He supported the Christ for the Philippines ministry by providing clothing and meals for the indigenous people, printing Bibles in the local dialect, building a library and livelihood center for sewing classes in coordination with Keimyung University. He is also a member of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce Washington Chapter and the Filipino American Christian Fellowship of Lynnwood.

James Yoo is survived by his wife, Imee Vilches Yoo, and daughters Stephanie Mi Jong Yoo and Hannah Erika Vilches and granddaughter, Maya Bailey.

Full Obituary in Lynnwood Times: https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2026/04/08/yoo/

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. April 18 at Purdy & Walters Floral Hills Funeral Home, 409 Filbert Road in Lynnwood. The family has requested that floral offerings be omitted.