William Gene Yee

William was the eldest of 6 children born to Frank Gene Yee and Sue Goon Yee. He graduated from Phoenix Union High School at the age of 16 and enrolled at Arizona State University, where he majored in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduating with his Bachelor of Engineering degree, William enlisted in the Army, serving both in Germany and France. He transferred to the Army Reserves after reaching the rank of Major. Upon completing his service in Europe, William purchased and shipped a Volkswagen Beetle from Germany to the US and drove it with friends from New York to Arizona. In New York, he met the love of his life, Catherine May Tam. He proposed to her at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and they married on June 20, 1965. They had 3 children and raised their family in Scottsdale, Arizona. William worked as an electrical engineer at Motorola for 35 years. In his retirement years, fishing and football, movies and mahjong, and serving with other Asian veterans in the American Legion, were some of his favorite activities. William was predeceased by his parents, wife of 48 years, and sister, Lily Yee. He is survived by three sisters, Vivian Yee (Michael), Doris Whang (Charles), and Ginger Woo (Donald), and his brother, Benjamin Ong (Mary). He is also survived by three children, Douglas Yee, Cynthia Fong (Andrew), and Brian Yee (Irene), and three grandchildren, Joshua Fong, David Fong, and Catherine Fong. William will be laid to rest at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary on December 2, 2025.