Stephen M. Y. Wong

Stephen (Muk Yan) Wong was born on April 5, 1934, to Noon Wong and Chung Fung in Guangdong, China.  He was the eldest of four children, followed by his younger brother, Loong Yan, and sisters, Sui Ling and Sui Ping.

The Wong family moved to Hong Kong, then a British colony, in 1939.  His father owned and operated a canning business in Guangdong, but maintained a distribution office in Hong Kong where Stephen spent his childhood years.  He was in Hong Kong in 1941 during Japan’s attack and occupation in World War II.  The family retreated to their home village for four years until Japan surrendered in 1945, after which they returned to Hong Kong.  As the Chinese Communist Revolution started in China in 1949, Stephen and his father remained in Hong Kong to continue business operations while the rest of the family was scattered throughout Guangdong and the villages.  Therefore, he spent his formative years living apart from his mother and three siblings.  During the Revolution, the Communists took away the ancestral home and vast farmland owned by the Wong family in China.  Through the years, members of his family paid the Communist government to be allowed to leave China and be reunited with relatives in Hong Kong. 

Stephen attended Nam Mo High School in Guangdong and completed his secondary education at Chi Hang High School in Hong Kong.  He received his teaching certificate at Rural Training College in the New Territories.  Stephen began his career as a teacher at Yuen Long Dong Gun Primary School, followed by Tai Po Government Primary School and later Sun Po Gong Government Primary School in Kowloon.  He was an avid reader and passionate about imparting his knowledge of Chinese history and literature to his students.

In 1960, Stephen was introduced to Catherine Chan, a fellow teacher, by a close family friend.  They married on April 9, 1963, and established a family with the birth of their two children, Wendy and Wilfred.  The family immigrated to the United States on February 9, 1975, residing for a short time in San Francisco before moving permanently to Seattle that summer.  Stephen worked at Olin Corporation (Rocket Research Corporation) in Redmond for many years until his retirement at age 58. 

In their golden years, Stephen and Catherine loved traveling, taking cruises around the world and building cherished memories together as a couple.  They also enjoyed weekly dim sum outings with friends.  Stephen even started a literature club to share his vast understanding of Chinese history and culture.  Above all, his greatest joy was spending quality time with the family, especially his grandchildren. 

Stephen accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in his adult years.  He was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, faithfully serving as a deacon.  Stephen attended St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and in-house worship services while residing at The Lakeshore retirement community during the last five years of his life.  He prayed and studied the Bible consistently as part of his personal time with God.

Stephen is survived by his brother, Loong Yan Wong (Mee Oi); sister, Sui Ling Wong (Yung Kai Yip); sister, Sui Ping Wong; and his devoted children, daughter, Wendy Eng (Daniel) and son, Wilfred Wong (Vera); as well as many extended family members.  His legacy lives on through his grandchildren, Preston Eng; Alexander, Connor, and Hailey Wong.  He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Catherine C. Wong; father, Noon Wong; and mother, Chung Fung.  Stephen will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Private Memorial Service to be held at Edline-Yahn & Covington Funeral Chapel.

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