Khanh Duong passed away at home on May 23, 2024. Never a rule follower, his passing was just as abrupt as his witty, but often inappropriate comments.

Originally of Canton-Chinese descent, Khanh was born in Saigon, Vietnam to Ngan Duong and Lang Chau and lived in a full house with a brother and five sisters. Growing up, he attended traditional Vietnamese school during the day and spent time in the afternoon with a tutor learning English. He often quoted his favorite saying his tutor taught him, "No money, no honey!"

Like thousands of refugees, Khanh escaped Vietnam by a fishing boat and spent nearly two years at various refugee camps in Indonesia until he immigrated to the US in 1980. With help from two local families who regularly sponsored Vietnamese refugees, the Duong family traded one humid jungle for another and landed in Memphis.

Khanh considered hard work a virtue and his life reflected this until the very end. If you knew Khanh, you knew that he took every job seriously — a little too serious at times. After surviving triple bypass surgery in 2016 he continued to juggle several part time jobs to keep himself active and busy. Throughout this, he always kept a lighthearted, if not loud demeanor and continued to provide laughter for his family and friends.

He leaves behind three children, David, Jim (Caroline), Melissa (Yuki), three granddaughters, Olivia, Jocelynn, Izabelle and his fiercely loyal dog and unofficial third son, Koko — who people often said walked Khanh instead of the other way around. A private memorial service will be held in California where Khanh will be reunited with his father, mother and brother.

In lieu of flowers and donations, the family asks that you remember to pass on the kindness and enjoy a hot bowl of pho in honor of Khanh.