Obituary: Martika Lynn Chanphone Bate

Martika Lynn Chanphone Bate 1990~2006 Born 26 November 1990, Salt Lake City, daughter of Amnouysin "Nouy" Phimsouay and Jennifer Leone Bate: died 27 Jan. 2006, Salt Lake City. Martika was a beloved and special person who brought service and happiness into the lives of others. She enjoyed serving Sunday morning meals under the viaduct to the homeless even in freezing weather; excelled in school and won so many awards at Bryant Intermediate that her maternal grandfather joked he didn't know the school gave achievement awards until she attended it. She was a student at Bennion Elementary before going to Bryant and went to East High School afterward. She cared about others and was a member of East's Gay-Straight Alliance because she believed everybody was equal and should be treated with understanding. She hid her own vulnerabilities beneath her need to take care of others and quietly succumbed to depression over fear of failure to achieve her idea of perfection, taking her own life at the age of 15. Martika left behind a stricken circle of grieving friends and family members who will not see someone with her combination of humor, intelligence, and love again. Preceded in death by uncles Sivone Phimsouay, David Bate, and LeR Douglas Bushnell; grandfather Bounesouy Opacthome; cousin Charisse Azevedo. Survived by parents; grandparents Leth Phimsouay, Sandy; Kerry and Marilyn Bate, Salt Lake City; great-grandfather Nak Phimsouay, Laos; great uncle Lin Phimsuoy, West Jordan; uncles and aunts, Ting 'Lynn' (John) Carlson, Morrow, Ohio; Sone (Sopheat) Phimsouay, West Valley City; Linda Mathipinya, Taylorsville; Doris Bushnell, West Valley City; Marilee (Ty) Borden, Sandy; Becca Bate, Salt Lake City; Gwendolyn (Daniel) Flores, West Valley City; Joseph (Bertha) Bate, Murray; sisters Tanessa Bate, Elizabeth Bate, cousin and foster-brother Joshua Bate, all of Salt Lake City; numerous other cousins. Funeral Services to be held at 11:00 am Thursday, February 2, 2006, at the Garner Funeral Home, 1001 Eleventh Avenue, SLC with a viewing from 9:45 am until 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to "The Road Home" 210 South Rio Grande St. SLC, Utah 84101