Ning Jue Yee passed away on March 21, 2024 at the age of 95 years and 11 months. He was born on April 22, 1928 in Burns, to Yee Jue Quong and Hom Shee, who owned and operated the Hilander Restaurant (formerly the Club Café). Ning was one of eight children and life was often challenging as a Chinese-American family living in rural Oregon, but they were resilient and became an integral part of the community. 

Ning graduated from Burns High School in 1946 and enjoyed playing on the basketball team and working on various art projects. In his free time he enjoyed deer and jackrabbit hunting with friends, playing the guitar, and tinkering with cars.

After high school he enlisted in the US Army, spending most of his service as part of the Allied occupation of Germany. After being honorably discharged in 1948, he attended the Oregon Technical Institute (now the Oregon Institute of Technology) in Klamath Falls, where he studied commercial art. After finishing the program, he worked in sign painting and operated gas stations, but eventually settled on automotive technology as his trade, working first for Burns Ford and later Skyline Ford in Salem. He never let go of his creative and inquisitive side, however, and throughout his life continued to draw, build furniture and gadgets out of wood and metal, and play his guitar. Music was a constant companion as well, with songs by Hank Williams, Buck Owens, and John Prine in regular rotation on his record player and eventually his Amazon smart speaker.

In 1965, Ning joined his father on a trip to Hong Kong, where he met and began dating Mou Chee “Stella” Choy. The two married on May 2, 1966 after six months of courtship. After marrying, the couple settled in Burns and had three children. In 1979, hoping to provide them with more educational options, Ning and Mou Chee moved the family to Salem and Ning began working at Skyline Ford as an automatic transmission mechanic, eventually retiring from the dealership in 1993 at the age of 65. 

During his 30 years of retirement, Ning engaged in a variety of activities including spending time with family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren; extensive travel with Mou Chee to various parts of the United States, Europe, and China; and joining the senior community at Salem Center 50+, where he enjoyed playing pool, listening to live music, and taking ukulele classes.

As a person, Ning had a remarkable ability to garner the affection and admiration of anyone who got to know him, especially children and young people, who loved his playful sense of humor. Despite this level of esteem, he was always humble about it and even seemed surprised when complimented about his kind and welcoming nature.

Ning will be deeply missed by those who survive him: his wife, Mou Chee “Stella” Yee; children, Bryant Yee, Norma Yee, and Cameron (Tok-Hui Yeap) Yee; grandchildren, Josh (Missy) Ryan, Ellie Kelly, Alice Yee, and Ada Yee; great-grandchildren, Audrey Ryan and Blaine Ryan; sister Elsie Keppinger; brother Henry Yee; sister-in-law, Elaine Yee; and seven nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Yee Jue Quong and Hom Shee; brothers, Donald Yee and Bill Yee; sisters, Joy Yee, Pearl Yee, and Lillie Toy; brothers-in-law, Chok Toy and Gary Keppinger; and sister-in-law, Angela Yee.

Ning will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery. Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to Salem Center 50+ or the Harney County Historical Society.