December 6, 1939 ~ February 13, 2024
Jimmy Yang Yeo, age 84, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2024 in Delta, Utah.
Jimmy was born on December 6, 1939 in Korea, in an area that would become South Korea following the war. In 1952, when Jimmy was 12 years old, he left to visit some family in a neighboring village. During his absence, his village was bombed and the rest of his family perished in the attack. Jimmy hid in the Korean jungle for three months evading the Northern Korean People's Army soldiers. During this time, following his mother's advice, he began a lifelong relationship with God, never missing a day praying to God as a friend.
Eventually Jimmy was found by U.S. troops. An officer, in an act of kindness, provided Jimmy a place to sleep and introduced him to black coffee with lots of sugar. The officer placed Jimmy under his care and gave him a job in the Officer's Mess Hall. This led to a lifelong love and career of cooking. He needed money to move to America, so he began developing the skills of a master chef working in the Officer's Club. In his spare time he trained in martial arts, become a 5th Degree Black Belt. He bragged that he could stop a man with one strike.
When he was able to move to America, he settled on the West Coast. He was able to find employment at the Reno/Tahoe Resorts and became a Master Sous-Chef. Jimmy took pride in providing large amounts for gourmet food, preparing everything from scratch.
While working at the resorts, Jimmy met the love of his life, Thelma Estell King. They were married on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1993 in Reno, Nevada. Jimmy and Thelma loved to travel. They took four months and visited most of the sites in the Western U.S. Their favorite was Yellowstone Park. Eventually Thelma developed Alzheimer's, and they moved to Delta to provide her with care at the Millard Care Center. During the 8 years Thelma lived in Delta, Jimmy was devoted in making a visit to see her every day. His belief and prayer every day was that on one of those days he would be granted a few moments when the effects of Alzheimer's would part and he could talk to Thelma like he used to. Jimmy was always at her side never losing that hope until her passing on April 2, 2014. During this time, he worked as a chef at the Boy's Home in Delta and was essential in the development of a new kitchen and menu for the boy there.
Jimmy's ability to cook cannot be overstated. He made the world's best cookies and cakes. He will be remembered for all the kindness and food he unsparingly provided to his friends. He deeply cared for his friends and was a true cheerleader for their happiness.
Following Jimmy's wishes there will be no Memorial Service. But from the many friends he left behind, 'Jimmy, we hope you are rejoicing with your beloved Thelma and your family. It might be goodbye, but your story lives on. Your love is written in all of our hearts!'
