Chong Cha Yi Magahan, 68, of Las Vegas, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Nathan Adelson Hospice. She was born in Seoul, South Korea on August 1, 1951 to unknown parents and was raised in an orphanage.
Chong met and married her U.S. Army husband Sam Hawkins. They settled in Las Vegas in 1980 and divorced in 1986. Chong met and married Robert Magahan on June 26, 1988.
She is survived by her husband, of 31 years, Robert; son Willy Hawkins of Enterprise, AL; daughter Lisa Hawkins Tirri of Las Vegas; stepdaughter Lisa Magahan of Brooklyn, NY; stepson David Magahan of Enterprise, AL; and numerous grandchildren and step-grandchildren who all called her Grandma Chong.
Chong worked as a house maid at the former Sundance Hotel (now The "D") and then as a Bus person at the El Cortez Hotel, Gold Coast and the Yellow Rose Cafe, Texas Station.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and especially her close friends, Chong Valerino, Chong Moore and Norma Lingle.
A visitation will be held from 3:00 - 7:00pm on Tuesday, October 22, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89123. A burial will be at 8:00am on Wednesday, October 23, at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005.
