Yao Choy Saephan

Yao Choy Saephan passed away on January, 26, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. He was born July 5, 1939, in Nam Ngoy to Manh Wang and Wun Fou Bienh. Nam Ngoy is a town in Laos, north of Luang Prabang bordering China.

Yao Choy has 5 daughters and 5 sons. In the mid 1970s, he moved his family from the mountainous region of Laos to Khlong Lan, Thailand, to escape the communist war of Laos. Yao Choy lived in a Thailand refugee camp from 1986 to 1988. In 1988, he moved his family to re-settle in Seattle, Washington. On August 4, 1998 Yao Choy became a US citizen.

Yao Choy was a soft spoken devout Christian who loved his family. He was a generous man, a caring husband, a firm yet loving father, and a playful grand-father. He enjoyed sharing classic Mandarin songs and media with family and friends. He also loved technology and inventing useful things.

In life, Yao Choy gave us hope, strength, perseverance, and reminded us to always be humble, to be kind, to forgive others, and to live a life of peace.

Yao Choy is survived by his wife, Lai Fin Saechao, his 10 children, Meuy Choy, Nai Choy, Kao Choy, Chet Sio, Kao Kee (Kevin), San Choy, Sou Choy, Luo Sio (Virote), Farm Choy (Amy), and Cheng Jien (Emily), 23 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren.