Obituary of Ronald Yee

Ronald “Ron” Yee, 63, passed away Monday, April 19, 2021; he was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Lee Yee. Born in Houston, he grew up in the Humble-Kingwood area, playing a vital role in the family grocery business, located in South Humble. As one of very few Chinese-American youth growing up in the area during the 1960s-70s, Ronald developed a distinctive individuality that carried forward throughout his life, while always maintaining a devoted closeness with his family. He graduated from Humble High School – where he excelled at Forensics, being named Texas State UIL Champion in Extemporaneous Speaking - then worked in customer service for several years before independently heading to the West Coast to attend the University of California at Berkeley, where he majored in Political Science. Settling in Berkeley after college, Ronald experienced the rich, natural surroundings and cultural offerings of the Bay Area, while working in health care administration at a local hospital. He developed meaningful relationships with friends in the area and served as the consummate host and tour guide for those fortunate enough to visit him, introducing close family members to the many wonders of Northern California. In the early 2000s, largely due to the needs of his family, Ronald left his life in California behind to resettle in Texas, where he filled a variety of roles in consumer survey management and retail distribution while assisting close relatives with their special needs. Ronald was a voracious reader and polymath, seemingly conversant on all topics under the sun. He was incredibly loyal, putting his family and friends first and always seeking ways to help. The older brother role came naturally to him, along with his protective tendency for those he loved. His profound thoughtfulness, exemplified by his gift-giving, was another standout quality - he gave generously to those closest to him, and each gift always seemed perfect for the moment. A great joy of his life was spending time and connecting with each of his nieces, whom he supported and encouraged at every turn – the word avuncular applied perfectly to how he was around them. Ronald is survived by his mother Lisa, sister Lillian, brother Donald, sister-in-law Pam and four beloved nieces, all of whom adored him and miss him immeasurably. His life will be celebrated during a memorial planned to occur in the Bay Area later this summer. Memorial donations can be made to the Houston Humane Society or USA for UNHCR.