Keming "Kem" Chao, devoted husband and father, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on December 31, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with myelodyaplastic syndrome. The youngest of four children, he was born on March 14, 1950 in Beijing, China to Yechi Zhao and Kuifang Wu.
After growing up in China where he worked as a pharmacist, he moved to Japan to work as a chef at his father's restaurant. Keming later traveled to the United States where he met his wife, May. They married in Monroe, Louisiana on January 30, 1983 and then spent ten years in Shreveport, Louisiana where they owned a convenience store. Keming eventually went to work for KCS Railroads and the family moved to Garland, Texas where he has lived for over eighteen years. A hard and tireless worker, Keming loved going to work every day at KCS and was extremely proud of his job.
In his spare time, Keming enjoyed fishing with his son, trying new restaurants with his daughter, traveling with his wife, cooking, playing poker, watching TV (especially cooking shows), and dancing with Yuki, his great pyrenees. He is famous in the family for making delicious Chinese dumplings and buns from scratch. Many knew Keming as extremely dependable and always there to lend a helping hand to friends and strangers alike. His gentle spirit and easy-going way drew people to him, and his graciousness, humility, and generosity created strong and lasting relationships.
Keming was extremely devoted to and proud of his two children, Ann Chao and Michael Chao, both of Dallas. He is also survived by his best friend and wife of almost 30 years, May Chao of Dallas; his mother, Kuifang Wu of Dallas; his two brothers Kezhang Zhao of Sydney, Australia and Keqin Zhao of Beijing, China; his sister, Minju Hashizume of Tokyo, Japan; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, and cherished friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Yechi Zhao of Tokyo, Japan.
Keming will forever live on in the hearts of many people who had the privilege of knowing such a kind and loving man whose smile could light up a whole room.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Saturday, January 5, 2013 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Sunday, January 6, 2013, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. Committal will follow at The Ridgeview Memorial Park Pavilion in Allen, Texas, and then followed by a lunch reception in Plano, Texas.