Mary May (Wong) Hom
February 26, 1922 – November 24, 2021
May passed away peacefully due to old age at the Village Senior Residence Center in Missoula, Montana surrounded by family.
May was born in Butte, Montana to Wong Cue and Leong Shee, immigrants from Canton Province, China. May was the oldest child of six children. She attended school, grades 1-12, in Butte and graduated from high school in 1940. When not in school, May helped care for her younger brothers and sister, worked with her parents in the family business, the Montana Shirt Company, and as a cashier at the Pekin Chinese restaurant.
After graduating, May married Harry Lee (Hom) in Butte and moved to Helena, MT where Harry owned and operated the White Eagle Café (1935-1943). During this time, May gave birth to their first child, Harry Jr.
In 1943 May and Harry moved to Hamilton, Montana to become part owners of the Montana Café along with the current owners Lee Suey and Lee Pay. In 1952, when Lee Suey and Lee Pay retired, May and Harry partnered with Jim and Yu Kim Lee, and the two couples operated the restaurant for 30 years, 1952-1982. During these years May gave birth to six more children – Rosemary, David, Margaret, Nancy, Beverly, and Linda. While the children were young, May stayed at home. As the children became older, May began to work at the restaurant part time as a waitress. When the children graduated from high school they all attended college and graduated.
In retirement, May volunteered at the Commodity Thrift Center, the Senior Center, the Marcus Daly Hospital Gift Shop, and was always generous to her family, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren
May’s family wishes to thank the staff at the Village Senior Residence Center for the care they gave May during her time there. Their efforts to ensure May’s safety during the COVID pandemic was exceptional. May’s family also thanks the Encompass Hospice staff, volunteers, and administration for their concern and sensitive care of May during her final days.
Funeral services were held with immediate family at Daly-Leach Memorial Chapel in Hamilton. A private interment for the family and friends is scheduled Tuesday November 30, 2021 at the Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Bitterroot Humane Society, 262 Fairbanks Road, Hamilton, Montana, 59840.
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