In loving memory of Dr. Kok Wai Lee
1945 – 2025
Dr. Kok Wai Lee
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Kok Wai Lee during the beautiful dawning Saturday morning of January 11, 2025 in his long term hometown of Federal Way, Washington, surrounded by his family. He was 79 years old.
Born on August 23, 1945 in Penang, Malaysia, Kok Wai Lee was son to Jie Ling Lee and Shi Ng, and sibling to one sister and three brothers. After graduating from Chung Ling High School in Penang, he became the first in his family to pursue higher education. It was while studying to become a doctor at the National Defense Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan, that he met nursing student Ching Yang Chen, with whom he would soon embark on a lifelong adventure. Dr. Lee’s medical career brought him to the United States where he served as rotating intern in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, studied psychiatry in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed residency at Northwest Hospital in Michigan. Kok Wai and Ching Yang finally settled down in Washington state where they raised their two children and he continued his psychiatry practice at Western State Hospital and St Francis Hospital. After semi-retiring, Kok continued to work as a traveling doctor in underserved Eastern Washington. In later years, Kok Wai officially retired and was able to travel extensively including trips to Asia, South America, Europe, and Antarctica.
A kind and sincere soul, Kok Wai devoted much of his life to caring for others, both professionally and personally. Despite a demanding schedule, he found time to enjoy life by traveling, feeding animals, supporting Chinese cultural activities, tinkering with technology, and of course, joking around.
He is survived and missed by his wife Ching Yang, his son David, his daughter Grace, his son-in-law Jeremy, and other family members and friends who keep his memory alive.
A memorial service will be held on February 18, 2025 at 3pm.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.