Yang Kum Gillem was born on April 16, 1933, in
Okinawa, Japan. She was one of five children born to her father Hyon Kap Sin and mother Chong Sun Kim. She had three brothers and one sister, all raised in Seoul, South Korea.
Yang married Jerry Gillem of Childress, Texas in June of 1970.
In March of 1976, Jerry, Yang and their three daughters moved to Fort Polk, where Jerry finished out his service in the Army.
After their divorce, she worked tirelessly for her family and endured several hardships throughout her life. She
owned her own business while raising her daughters on her own. She lived to see many wondrous things, but what she enjoyed most was spending time with family and friends.
She was kind to neighbors, whether it was in the form of taking
them food or giving them a ride. Why did she do it? She would just respond, “Why not?” She was not one to mince words. She would just say she was “one tough cookie”.
Yang passed away peacefully on Monday, August 15, at the age of 83. She
was in her home in Leesville.
She is survived by her daughters, Sun Cha Manglona, Sue Tettenhorst and Robin Lee; her sons-in-law Gilbert Manglona, Sean Tettenhorst and Glen Lee; her great-grand and grandchildren. Ferdinand, Ana, Molina,
Jaylene, Josh, Noah and Grace; and many, many friends.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, August 20, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Labby Memorial Funeral Home 601 S. Fourth St. Leesville.