Yong Toua Kiatoukaysy Lor

Captain Yong Toua Kiatoukaysy Lor, 75, died peacefully in Denver, CO on December 19, 2018, after a long battle with cancer. A Hmong veteran of the Vietnam War, he was the Commander of Division 14 of Hong Nonh and later commanded Personnel Division, Group Member (G.M.) 26, Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU), Lao National Army. Awards include: Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Medal.

Yong Toua was born on December 30, 1942*, in Xam Nua, Laos, in the Village of Hong Nonh. He is the oldest son of Cher Neng Kiatoukaysy Lor and May Xaiyasang Lee. Siblings include: Ying (brother, deceased in Laos, 1968), Xab (brother, deceased in Laos, 1968), Walong (brother, residing in FL), Vangly (brother, residing in CO), Ma (brother, deceased in Laos, 1966), Chao (sister, residing in Laos), Mai (sister, residing in WI) and See (sister, residing in WI).

Yong Toua started school in 1949. In 1960, he volunteered to serve his country in the army. Two years later, he was appointed as Commander of Division 14, Hong Nonh. In 1971, as the war intensified, Yong Toua was promoted to the rank of Captain for G.M. 26, Commander, Personnel Division. After the Pathet Lao broke the Peace Treaty with the Lao Government, Capt. Lor left Laos to the Nam Phong Refugee Camp in Thailand. His family later relocated to Ban Vinai, Thailand. On July 19^th, 1978, Yong Toua and his family immigrated to the U.S., initially in Dallas, TX. Later that year, the family moved to Denver, CO where he attended the Emily Griffith Adult School and trained to become an automobile mechanic. In 1997, Yong Toua retired from the StorageTek Corporation.

Yong Toua is survived by his wife of 59 years, Tong Ly; his five sons, Ving, Acey, Amee, Thomas, and Tony; his four daughters, May, Mee, Shoua, and Yer; his eighteen grandchildren, Sahtos, Toupheng, Patshia, Jay Lee, Sita, Kirkpatrick, Kensue, Chiali, Jazmin, Jade, James, Katarina, Jennifer, Jordan, Noah, Amy, Kalia, and Ewan; and his great-grandson, Channing.

Funeral services for Yong Toua will be held at Horan & McConaty in Thornton, CO from Saturday, 1/5/19 through Monday 1/7/19. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge.

Interment Pallbearers: Sahtos, Jay Lee, Toupheng, Kirkpatrick, Kensue, and James.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations to the American Cancer Society.

*Date of birth as noted on Naturalization records is December 30, 1942. However, similar to the many refugees of the era, actual date of Yong Toua's birth is unknown. Birth year is believed to be 1940.

Please share your memories of Yong Toua by signing the guestbook below.

""DONEC ITERVM CONVENIENT""

Funeral Service: January 5, 2019 8:00 am - 12:00 am

Horan & McConaty - Metro North/Thornton
9998 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80229

Funeral Service: January 6, 2019 8:00 am - 1:00 am

Horan & McConaty - Metro North/Thornton
9998 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80229

Funeral Service: January 7, 2019 8:00 am - 12:15 pm

Horan & McConaty - Metro North/Thornton
9998 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80229