Yong Sook "Sookie" Schuyler's Obituary
Yong Sook “Sookie” Schuyler, née Kim, of Lakewood, WA, died peacefully at home on August 25, 2022 after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She had just turned 90. Sookie was born in Suncheon, South Korea on August 23, 1932, to Han Yong Kim and So Bang Chung. She was the oldest daughter of six children. Her father passed away when Sookie was 12, and this impacted her deeply for the rest of her life.
Having been born during the Japanese occupation of Korea, Sookie’s first language was Japanese, and she was known as Kaneoka Yoshiko until she was 9 years old. Sookie often described herself as a tomboy growing up and routinely got into mischief with her siblings. She was quite athletic, playing volleyball and running track. She also excelled academically and became fluent in English by the time she was a teen. She was deeply loved and respected by all her friends and family. Her physical beauty blossomed as she aged and as a young woman in her early 20s, she was often compared to Audrey Hepburn (an honor which flattered her immensely).
After graduating from college, and to help support her family, Sookie got a job as a secretary working for the US Army Chaplain’s office in Seoul, South Korea. There she supported the multi-denominational Army chaplains in their work, which she truly enjoyed. She immigrated to the United States in 1960, sponsored by the Reverend and Mrs. Duling of Illinois, to attend graduate school. Upon arrival in America, she toured the US on a greyhound bus and visited a friend in San Antonio, TX. There she unexpectedly met the love of her life, LTC (Ret.) Linden “Sky” Erdmann Schuyler at a backyard barbeque. Graduate school went out the window and they were married in San Antonio in 1962. They were married just shy of 60 years and together they had one daughter, Vivian, four grandchildren and they formed a tight and loving family. Sookie and Sky also sponsored all her siblings and her mother as they immigrated to the United States and started their lives.
Sookie was exceptionally patriotic and was so proud to be a nationalized citizen of the United States. She fiercely defended it to anyone who might criticize it. As an Army wife, she was devoted to supporting Sky in his 28-year career as an officer. She was a loyal and committed member and leader of the Officer Wives Club at all their duty stations. She taught Korean to soldiers who were preparing to be assigned to Korea. She volunteered with the American Red Cross, taught cooking classes, was a member of the PTO in every school Vivian attended, and did everything with passion and fervor. Sookie and Sky also entertained often and invited friends and colleagues to their home. This was a sought-after invitation as Sookie’s cooking skills were top notch. She was exceptionally generous to friends and strangers and also loved to shop. Their favorite duty station was at Landstuhl, Germany. There she learned how to speak German and could successfully converse with any shopkeeper as she traversed the country (and continent, for that matter) collecting china, pottery, crystal, and furniture. She also learned to play golf there and this became a life-long sport at which she excelled. Sky and Sookie loved to travel throughout Europe, and she learned how to speak a bit of French and Italian to better bond with the international friends they met on their journeys. She considered herself an amateur linguist.
Upon Sky’s retirement from the Army, they returned to and settled in Lakewood, WA. Having always had a keen eye for design, she enrolled in school to become an interior designer when she was nearly 60 and became a sought-after designer in the area. She also worked part-time at a women’s boutique in Lakewood as her love of shopping also included fashion. Sookie was also a proud member of the Tacoma Garden Club for many years. Her thumb was perpetually green, and she thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of planting. As a member of the garden club, she volunteered in the native gardens at Point Defiance Park and was always proud to have her family drive in the area to see where she spent so much of her time. Up until her Alzheimer’s took a downward turn, Sky and Sookie also played golf three days a week and pulled their own bags for all 18 holes. She would often tease younger people on the course who were riding in a cart and tell them they should be walking and getting more exercise “like this grandma”!
Despite all these accomplishments, Sookie was most proud of being a mother and a grandmother to her four grandchildren. She was deeply devoted to her family’s well-being and was a strong and compassionate influence while holding all to high expectations especially where etiquette and generosity were concerned. Friends and neighbors (and even strangers!) were regaled with stories of accomplishments and achievements of all and she shared without sparing any details. She had a voracious sense of humor, loved to tease those around her, and ensured all knew how much she loved and cared for them as she always put others’ needs ahead of her own.
Sookie was pre-deceased four months earlier by her husband, Sky, her parents, and three siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Vivian Kim Shannon, née Schuyler, son-in-law Joseph Shannon, her four grandchildren Ryan Shannon, Schuyler Shannon (Brittani), Lindsey Shannon, Sydney Shannon, and her great-grandson Declan Shannon; one brother, one sister, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.
Sookie was a force of nature, a go-getter, a giant. She loved deeply and we are all better for having her unconditional love in our lives. She will be loved and missed beyond measure and will never, ever be forgotten. We are consoled knowing she is reunited in heaven with her beloved Sky and that they will be hitting the links together forever.
Her memorial service will be held on Monday, September 26, 2022 at 10:15am at Tahoma National Cemetery where she will be interred with Sky.
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