Tom Bok Yee, 91, of Oakland, California, went to be with the Lord on October 5, 2023 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on May 3, 1932 to Tasi Wo and Fong She Yee, and moved with his family to San Francisco, California at the age of 12.  He attended Commodore High School where his major interest was in American History. He achieved an Associate’s degree from City College of San Francisco. After college, he served in the Army from 1952 to 1954 and transitioned to  the San Francisco Navy shipyard pulling cables. He later entered into an electronics mechanic apprenticeship program and then worked as an electronic mechanic for 33 years at the US Naval Air Station in Alameda. Tom retired in 1989 at the age of 57. In total, Tom served for the Army and as a civil servant for 37 years.

Tom and Carolyn met at a football kickoff dance at UC Berkeley in November 1960. After knowing each other for only 10 months, they married in September 1961. Tom supported his lovely wife of 62 years in her academic pursuit and career as a parent education teacher. He would  babysit their three children when Carolyn went to school and work. He even helped Carolyn at work as a volunteer Parent Education Teacher‘s aide for a whole year after he retired!

As an active and proud member of Chinese Presbyterian Church since the 1970's, Tom served multiple terms on the Board of Deacons and on the Board of Trustees. He would often help coordinate luncheons and fundraisers, prepare meals, and perform repairs. He also loved to ballroom dance and travel. After he retired, he spent time remodeling the whole house and took over preparing meals for the family. For his personal time, Tom loved to write articles for the church Parish Pointer and watch action packed movies into the wee hours of the early morning. 

Tom is survived by Carolyn and their three children Craig, Wesley and Cheryl, son-in-law Dennis, and five grandchildren – Justin Yee, Kadin Yee, Reyna Ho, Trisha Ho and Jolene Ho, and his brother Daniel Yee. He was preceded in death by his siblings Bok Chu Yee, Mabel Leong, Joe Yee, Frances Lee, Sonny Yee and Mary Ann Fong.

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