Andy YEE Obituary

My name is Rhonda. It is with much sadness that on Tuesday, I learned that Andy´s son Bevan had informed a mutual friend, Ian Reeves-Smith of Andy´s passing.
I started going over the years that I knew Andy and decided to write to the tribute site.
I went right through school with Andy, along with Melvina, Vera and later, Alfred.
My family lived at 1 Sladden Street, Naenae which would have been a 2-minute walk across the road to the Greengrocer shop that Mr & Mrs Yee had.... well, all through my childhood. I remember how all the Yee children worked at the shop when not attending school. I thought that was so cool.
Some mornings, another school friend, Judith Howard and I would stop off at the shop to "call" for Melvina so we could walk to school together. We would be invited to have breakfast at the back of the shop, which we LOVED !! Crisp rice cakes, would that be right?
I clearly recollect Mr Yee (and his beautiful head of hair, always kept immaculate) Mrs Yee, Stanley and Edmund. Now as an adult I regret not asking about their story, Their early years e.g. when they immigrated from their homeland etc. I´m sure it would have been very interesting as is other people´s stories from the past. Has anyone from the family documented their story?
Even though our dad kept a vegetable garden, it was a Saturday morning ritual for my mum to go over to Yee´s Greengrocer store to purchase whatever else was needed. Naenae Shopping Centre in the good old days. Naenae was a very good place to grow up in back in the 60´s / 70´s.
My desk was next to Andy when we attended Naenae Intermediate, and we always had a lot of laughs. He was the PERFECT pupil, very respectful and clever to boot, a perfectionist when it came to schoolwork. Our teacher was Mr Olsen. Melvina I think you were next door in Mr Johnson´s class? I was a bit of a mischief kid but NEVER got away with anything with Mr Olsen. I kept, for the most part, a very tidy desk BUT nothing like Andy´s, he was so organised, really!
One day (and who knows why?) while Andy wasn´t watching (probably paying attention like I should have been), I tipped his entire pencil case out onto his desk!! Of course, this drew attention to Andy, and everyone was looking our way. When asked by Mr Olsen what was going on? Andy said he didn´t know how it happened Well, I´ve never forgotten that - the guilt I felt and still feel. How mean I was to do that to my poor friend. Nothing too major but it sure has stayed with me all this time!!
I know our paths have not crossed for many decades, but I feel the conversation would have flowed if or when we ever met up again. Andy and Melvina are in most of my school photo´s which are always great to look back on and reminisce.
To Andy´s family, death leaves a heartache no-one can heal, love leaves a memory no-one can steal.
Take care of each other and always talk about Andy, he sure was a good human, and that smile, it was so friendly.
Arohanui, Rhonda Te Whetu (nee Lamb) Gold Coast, QLD

With deepest sympathy to the family.
Andy, a former greengrocerer, dairy owner, restaurateur and of late poultry salesman. A friend who will be sadly missed. Rest in peace, until we meet again.

So Sorry for your loss Andy was such a fun loving person to work with at CDC. Will be missed.