Chanchai "Uuan" Chaicahanachot's Obituary
Chanchai “Uuan” Chaicahanachot was born September 8th, 1943, in Samut Sakhon Thailand. On September 22nd 2023, only weeks after his 80th birthday, he completed his service on earth to his family and God, and departed us much too soon. Chanchai grew up in the coastal town of Mahachai, located southwest of Bangkok. Nicknamed Uuan, (pronounced OOH-UN - meaning fat in thai) by his family, Chancahi was a lover of many foods and treats, especially noodles, ice cream, Pepsi, and the various seafoods that his hometown was famous for. Even in his bedridden last days Chanchai would pass the time watching Thai food videos on YouTube.
His family, like many families at that time in Thailand, was of limited means. After losing his mother in his adolescent years, Chanchai graduated high school and went on to the Police Academy in Bangkok. Chanchai was an accomplished marksman, who was well loved by his superiors. After many years of service and much advancement in the police force, Chancahai decided to sacrifice his career as a police officer to move his family to the United States in hopes of better educational opportunities for his children. Life was not easy at first for the Chaicahnachot family. Chanchai would work multiple jobs to provide for his family. He would often pick raspberries in Pleasant Grove, and when not in school, his children and wife would sometimes join him.
Eventually Chanchai got a job doing custodial work for the LDS church. None his work in the U.S. was as prestigious as his career as a police officer in Thailand, but he took great pride in his work for the church. He was a steadfast member who loved to attend church meetings, even with his limited English. He loved people in general, but he especially loved his brothers and sisters at church and could feel their love for him. All that knew him, either at church or later at his family’s restaurant, Thai Ruby, were instantly charmed by his warm spirit, kind demeanor, and agreeable nature. Many customers knew him by name and loved to come in and say hi. His Pad Thai noodles were the restaurant’s number one selling dish. He likely cooked up over 50,000 of them during the 17 years his family owned the restaurant.
After retiring from the restaurant business, Chanchai liked to hang out at his home in Orem. Having come from meager beginnings in life he was proud of his house, which years of hard work provided him. And even though he was a notoriously humble man who drove a basic Toyota pickup with manual roll up windows, he would sit up high and proud when his children drove him around in the family’s white Mercedes SUV.
Chanchai is survived by his wife Wanida, his two daughters, Warunya and Warisa, and his son Chanon. Funeral services will be held at the LDS chapel in Orem located at 195 W 300 S on Thursday September 28th at 11:00 am.
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