Kay Quan

Kay Quan was born July 8, 1926, in San Francisco, California, to Yuen Fun and Look Siu (Han) Quan. At the age of 3, Kays parents moved the family back to their homeland of China. They returned to San Francisco when he was 14. Kay only spoke Cantonese at that time and had to learn English while attending Poly High School.



Answering the call to serve, Kay enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. PFC Quan served as an interpreter for a Chinese Colonel Deputy Officer at Scott Field, IL, for the Army Heavy Equipment School in Spokane, Washington, and for the Chinese Detachment in Denver, Colorado. He was honorably discharged in 1947.



On August 25, 1948, Kay married the love of his life, May Jane Ng. They eventually made their home in Monterey Park, California (1956), where they raised their five children. Family was very important to Kay, and his children were his greatest passion. Kay worked very hard to ensure that his children received a college education and to protect them from the difficulties and prejudices he experienced growing up. He taught them the value of a dollar, to work hard, and to do the right thing. He also stressed the benefits of getting along with others and, more importantly, to stick together as a family.



Kay was a jack-of-all-trades who worked as a tool and die maker and machinist for the better part of 45 years. He had a keen eye for detail and was a math whiz. In his spare time he most enjoyed spending time with children. Teaching them to fix things around the house or watching sports on TV would bring a smile to his face. Doing so with peanuts in the shell to snack on was a bonus!



Mr. Quan passed away November 17, 2016, in West Covina, California, at the age of 90. He is survived by dear wife, May Jane Quan; children, Anita Quan Meister (Erik), Lawrence Quan, Judy Quan (Paige), Norman Quan (Cecelia), and Diane Quan (Marc); grandchildren, Amber Quan, Stephanie Quan, Vince Quan, Blake Cotcamp, and Alexa Cotcamp; and his sister, May Quan.



A funeral service will be held at 1pm on Saturday, November 26, 2016, at White Emerson Mortuary, 13304 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, California. Interment will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park, also in Whittier.