Phillip C. Lee
January 6, 1926 - January 12, 2013
Obituary
Phillip Lee passed away peacefully on January 12, 2013 at Kin On Health Care Center. He was born on January 6, 1926 in Boston, Massachusetts to Sai Hing Lee and Hon Shee Lee. He was the third oldest of seven children. At an early age his parents returned to China with their family intending to use his father’s investments to build apartments and return to their heritage. During the China/Japan conflict his father made the difficult decision to bring Phillip and his brothers back to the United States, leaving his mother and sisters in China. The plan was to establish a firm home base and bring the remaining family to the United States. The intervention of communism postponed this plan but eventually the entire family was reunited. During his youth Phillip helped in the laundry business and grocery store where he developed a foundation of business management skills that he would find useful later in life.
During World War II he served nearly three years with the U.S. Army in Germany and was honorably discharged on December 29, 1945 with a rank of Private First Class.
He would again return to China, this time to meet and marry Nancy Lim on April 10, 1947. They settled down in Seattle, WA where together they began building their life dream of raising a family and having their own business. During this time he also worked briefly at the Boeing plant.
Phillip always placed family first. His many other goals in life were designed to ensure he was able to provide for his family, give them all a good education, and retire early. With only an eighth grade education and using management skills learned while working for his father he began accomplishing these goals starting first with purchasing his father’s grocery store (Yale Grocery) in 1952.
When he was approached in 1958 with the idea of establishing the first Chinese bank in Washington State catering to the Asian market Phillip leapt at the chance. He became a charter member of the board of directors for United Savings and Loan Association, Seattle, WA in January 1959 and served in this capacity until 2002.
With Nancy’s support he achieved all his goals through timely investments and many successful business ventures which included:
- Horrigan’s Grocery,
- China Doll Restaurant,
- South China Doll Restaurant,
- Canton Doll Restaurant, and
- Owning several race horses.
Phillip is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He constantly encouraged his children and grandchildren to always be honest and try their best in whatever they did, be it work or play. He was very proud of all of them and looked forward to regular family gatherings.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, sons Larry (Anita) and Michael (Roxanne), daughters Catherine and Linda; seven grandchildren (Brian Kawakami, Eric Kawakami, Ben Lee, Erika Lee, Jessica Lee, Alissa Lee, Matthew Lee); one great grandson (Felix Lee).
Thanks, Phil, for all the good times with your family and the many gatherings of the Lee family. You will be missed by all who knew you and were honored to be called your friend and family. Your smile and warmth will always be in our thoughts.
God Bless You, as you are on another journey.
You know Phil, I’ll always remember you as a friendly hard working grocer. Where you are now is better than a nursing home and say hello to George and Harold for me.You will be miss by all. Always, Bill