Pok Nam Thomas

Pok Nam Thomas was born Pok Nam Chi on October 19, 1950 in a small village in Goesan, South Korea. Pok was the youngest child of father Sok Man Chi, and mother Yu Sun Kim. Sok Man Chi was a hard working coal merchant widely known for his immense generosity. Life was often difficult for Pok as a child and luxuries were rare. After her father died, Pok was forced to find employment at an early age to support her elderly mother. It was in these very difficult years that Pok developed the diligent work ethic she was so widely known for.

In 1973, Pok married Tom Thomas, a young American G.I. stationed in Korea. The next year they moved to Fort Lewis and Pok became a devoted military wife. She worked hard to teach herself English and in 1974 she passed her exam to become a U.S. citizen. In 1975, Tom and Pok were transferred to Aschaffenburg, Germany with their newborn girl, Stacey Lee Thomas. Pok flew back to Seattle the next year with her daughter to give birth to her son, Jeffrey Hampton Thomas, before returning to Germany to reunite with Tom. Pok was often on her own for long spells to care for her children while Tom was away on training missions. Even though she did not speak German, she always managed to care for her family without disapproval or complaint.

In 1978 they returned to Seattle and six years later Pok gave birth to Nathan Lee Thomas. Pok began working nights at Eldec Corporation so she could take care of her family during the day while Tom went to school. Even with three kids to care for and a rigorous work schedule, Pok never gave up in her pursuit to educate herself, studying many hours each week to improve her English and work knowledge. She continued to dedicate herself to her family and career to the very end. On February 19, 2013, after a very long, courageous and hard-fought battle with cancer, Pok peacefully passed away.