Aaron M. Yeung

The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! Proverbs 20:7 Aaron Matthew (Mun Chung) Yeung, of Chinese and Malasian descent, entered this world on August 8, 1972, in Epsom, England, the first child born to Louis (Chi Shing) Yeung and Cecilia (Peck Wen Fong) Yeung. Four years later the small family moved to the United States where they established their home in Little Rock, AR, and became naturalized citizens. Aaron was thirteen years old, and his sister, Charlene KaLing (Yeung) Farley was one year old. Like many American kids, Aaron struggled with his grades in elementary school until he entered St. Edward Catholic School. From then on his grades improved and he graduated successfully from Catholic High School for Boys in 1991. Escaping his home town, Aaron attended college at the University of Dallas where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1995. He was soon working at a crime lab which he found interesting but not necessarily the career path he would follow. In 2003 he met his future wife, Charity Dawn Schroeder, Oklahoma City, and the two began a long distance relationship through the internet and then through frequent trips back and forth between Little Rock and Oklahoma City. The long, beautiful, curvy five hour drive soon became monotonous and the couple realized they had to do something. It was either breakup or get married. On August 20, 2005, they were married in a lovely ceremony at the historic St. Edward Catholic Church, Little Rock, that had become such an integral part of Aaron's early life. Two weeks after their wedding and one week after Hurricane Katrina, the newly weds left on a honeymoon cruise out of Galveston, TX. Their life stars were twinkling brightly as they cruised Jamaica, Grand Caymans and Cozumel, Mexico. Returning to Little Rock, they set up housekeeping and a quiet life style until longing for family and the larger metroplex of Oklahoma City set in, luring them back to Charity's home town where they would bring three children into the world: Jacinta Therese (7), Patrick Frances (5), and Margaret Lucia (3). Like a beautiful jewel, Aaron was a multi-faceted man of many interests. His first love was his God, followed closely by his love for Charity and the children. The family had moved to the inner city to be closer to their beloved St. Francis of Assisi church where they became very active. Each morning Aaron would drop Jacinta off at school then go to the chapel for a time of prayer and reflection before he proceeded on to his work at Dell Computers. Perhaps it was the same gregarious personality that attracted Charity to Aaron that helped him to make so many friends in Oklahoma City. He was genuinely interested in people. He wanted to be sure everyone was comfortable and happy in whatever they were doing at the moment. At a party he would circulate and talk to everyone, learning about who they were and were, often finding he had compatible interests with his new-found friends. Aaron loved heroes. He didn't love the super heroes of the fantasy world but real heroes that wore uniforms and served their communities and their country. In his mind, no capes were needed - just a badge or a insignia or a hat that said "Veteran". They were the real heroes in his life. When he married into Charity's family he was delighted to learn that her grandfather, Harold Kneisel, had served on a ship during WWII. Every July when the family gathered to celebrate birthdays his focus was on learning more from Grandpa about his ship, about the war and any information that Grandpa was willing to share. He was delighted when he inherited a framed photo of the ship Grandpa served on and quickly searched for a model kit that was a replica. Both the photo and the ship are on display in the couple's home, giving honor to the real heroes in Aaron's life. Possibly because his family had traveled a great deal when he was a child, Aaron had an appreciation of travel. He loved learning about other cultures, be they local or in another part of the world. He would read and study about their destination, right down to the types of food that was local and most recommended or well known and then he'd determine to try that as they made their journeys. And journey they did. In the short, almost thirteen years they were married, Aaron and Charity traveled internationally to Hong Kong, where his grandparents lived, and to other exotic countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Columbia and, of course, to his country of birth, England. The food and the sights and the challenges were fun and exciting and breathed new excitement into his love for the further bounds. Aaron loved food! Long after everyone else had finished eating, Aaron was often still enjoying what was on his plate and sometimes, that of others as well. He was fluent in the Cantonese language and would often order food in Cantonese if the waiter/waitress spoke it, which only lent to the jovial atmosphere of enjoying a meal with him. You could almost say Aaron celebrated food. Like all of his other hobbies, he would research food, learn who had the best of what to offer whether it was a grocery store, a restaurant or in another country or county. Aaron was adventure. He loved cars. He didn't know how to work on a car and had no interest in tinkering with them, but he loved to own the unusual. He would search for vehicles on line then when he found something truly unusual he would lock onto it with a pointed determination. Once he found the vehicle he wanted he would call the dealership and begin the negotiations. When the deal was made Aaron and Charity would plan a trip to pick it up. One of those journeys of acquisition was the Range Rover that was once owned by actor Jack Nicholson in Los Angeles. But, long before the deal was ever finalized, Aaron had researched and verified the chain of ownership to make sure it was exactly as represented, then he brought that paper work home to keep with the vehicle. Another acquisition was that of a G-Wagen Mercedes, customized for actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not only did he manage to purchase the vehicle but he received a letter of congratulations from the former governor on State of California letterhead. One could say that Aaron was an amazing man of determination when he set his sights on something that interested him. But it wasn't all about cars and war stories and food. He loved his family very much. He enjoyed taking the children for a walk around the neighborhood in their stroller, or to their favorite place, Burger King! for food and fun. Probably the children were more interested in the play park provided, but Aaron loved the food, even at Burger King! As with everything else he was interested in, Aaron was serious about sports. He was not a sportsman in that he never played sports but he loved to watch college football. He would research the team, what the chances were of them winning specific games and then he would don his favorite team's tee shirt or sweatshirt so he could cheer appropriately for the team. His favorite was the Georgia Bulldogs. And, just to prove it, he made sure that he not only owned the appropriate shirts but had a real, live, breathing and barking bulldog of his own. It wasn't just football. It was Rugby or baseball or whatever. Always with the same goal. Research. Align. Gear up for game day. Amongst his many talents was his ability to draw architectural plans. At least an accurate portrayal of a building or home. Sometimes it was on full fledged architectural paper with the blue pens and lines. Sometimes it was on a napkin in a restaurant. It didn't matter - he would set about showing someone the plans he had in his head at that time. He even helped design part of his parent's home in Little Rock. Aaron had a good heart and a helping hand, whether it was a hand up to someone else or helping his mother-in-law organize her garage. He was quick to help, even eager to do so. His organizing abilities were exceptional. His frugality was legendary. In his job at Dell Computers, where he worked as a Project Manager, he was well thought of - not as an IT person - but as a person of organizational skills and a head for making the numbers work. Even there, Aaron was renown for his work ethic and his love of others in the workplace. One might ask how can a man as young as Aaron Yeung accomplish so much in forty-six short years. Perhaps it was because he genuinely loved life and loved his God and loved his family and . . . loved. His favorite scriptures were the Beatitudes because they speak of inclusion instead of rejection, of hope instead of despair, of righteousness instead of wrong doing. The Beatitudes 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. To My Children, I know you are asking "why" did I leave you. Where did I go? Why is your daddy gone when all the others are here to play and hold hands, to guide and even correct their children. There are no real answers for you now, none that neither you or I can understand. But I know this, the day is coming - and I promise this is true - when I'll be together again with you. You are not alone, you will never be alone. While the other children have their dad in their homes, you have me in your heart and in your memory and in the mirror. Look for me there and you will see me. Know I am watching you as you grow and learn and expand your horizons. You may not know it every time but I am guiding you and smiling on you and telling Our Father how very great you are because I am so proud of you. Your Momma needs you to be with her and hold her hand. She needs you to make her laugh and run and play and to remember me with you. Do that for me, my little ones, and know that I am there in the corners of your memory, in the pumping of that beautiful red blood that gives you life and in the sweet dreams of the night. I am with you. I love you. Daddy