Tai Tong (Papa) Yuan

Tai Tong (Papa) Yuan, 83, Nevada, died May 14, 2004, at 10:45 p.m. at his home. Born Feb. 28, 1921, in Zhejiang Shaoxing, China, he was the son of Tsai, and Kim Yuan, both of China. Mr. Yuan graduated from the Teachers Academy in 1936, joined the Chinese Air Force Weather Service where he served during World War II. In 1945, he married Ting Chen Chang. They had three sons, Shi Kuan Yuan and wife, Rui Fen Wang of Las Vegas, Nev., Shih Jung Yuan and wife, Su Ching of Tai Pei, Taiwan, Shih Wei Yuan and wife, May Ying of Tai Pei, Taiwan, and three daughters, Kuan Kuan Butterfield and her fiance, David Hamersley, of Nevada, Heidi Yuan Hou and husband, Tony Hou of Nevada, and Lola Lin of Nevada. They left mainland China for Taiwan in 1949. Tai Tong Yuan moved to the U.S. in 1981 and was divorced in 1987. He had 11 grandchildren, seven who live in the U.S., and five great-grandchildren, two live in the U.S. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Yuan was very proud to become a United States citizen in 1999.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 18, at 10 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Peter "Yee Chung" Chei officiating. Interment will follow in the Moore Cemetery. Friends called after 9 a.m. Monday and the family received friends From 7 to 8 p.m., Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation for Home Health and Hospice in care of Evergreen Memorial Chapel.