Prayoon R. Chanthavong's Obituary
One of my earliest memories I have of being a little girl living in a refugee camp in Laos was of the day I learned that my family had been chosen to go to a place called America. I remember being excited and scared about the big move. Then my mom said to me “I have to get your dad out of jail.” What? My dad had a checkered past? What was this heinous crime he was accused of? It was a noise complaint from a neighbor who called the police on my dad for celebrating too loudly at the birth of a friend’s baby. That was my dad. Those who knew him best knew how much he loved life and how much he enjoyed its challenges. He lived life to the fullest always either working or being on the move. To him, any occasion however insignificant or otherwise was celebrated like the birth of that brand new baby.My dad frequently talked about growing up on 40 acres of land in Laos with his other brothers. He went to college in Thailand then became a school teacher. After having 3 children he decided he did not want to risk his family’s safety because of the growing insurgency in Laos. He took us out of Laos across the border into a refugee camp in Thailand, never to see his beloved country again. It was the end of his life in Laos but the beginning of the start of many firsts not only for my dad but for the rest of us as well. With only $13 in his pocket, he immigrated his young family to a foreign country half way around the globe from his home. We flew into Tulsa where we were met at the airport by our new church family who later took us to our new home and provided us with our first American meal of fried chicken.The next day was the start of many new experiences. It was like being a kid in a candy store for my dad. He learned how to drive then eventually bought his own first car. He was surprised to find trick or treaters at our door a few weeks later during Halloween. He ate his first Thanksgiving meal. He learned the meaning of Christmas and felt snow on his face for the first time. He started working in the oil business with Howard Rongey whose family and our family grew into one large extended family who celebrated many a holiday season together.How my dad thrived! He relished each new first and with each new first he conquered, he grew in the strength of his character and the confidence of his determination. He lived his dream and eventually he saw his $13 turn into a new home and a new skill set complete with a new job at Nordam where he worked for the remainder of his life. He had no prior experience when they hired him. Yet they had so much faith in him and his abilities, they sent him to school where he eventually got certified as a master mechanic to work on large commercial airplanes. He was extremely proud of the work he did and often showed us pictures of the planes he helped build.My dad was a happy man who always had a smile on his face. His generosity was endless almost to a fault because of his willingness to go above and beyond to help those less fortunate than himself. He would give anyone the shirt off his back if they had asked for it. My siblings and I could not have asked for a better father. He was a great dad who loved his children and grandchildren dearly. Scott’s memories of our dad include all the times they spent together fishing, hunting and playing volleyball together. Lassanee enjoyed her special bonding time together with him whenever he took her with him on his errands. I will always remember my dad for his unconditional love no matter how much I thought my life was spiraling out of control. Each grandchild returned their grandfather’s love with the same intensity he showed them.My dad would not have wanted his friends and family to mourn him. Instead he would have wanted all of us to celebrate his life because it was a life that he lived happily to its fullest extent braving each new adventure and experience with a drive and determination to succeed for the sake of his family. He never got the opportunity to return to Laos and his 40 acres but as my promise to him, he will one day be able to rest in peace in the place he once so loved and called home.~PaphayFuneral Service 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2017 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.Visitation is Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
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