Sibu Tales : Relatives of Mrs. Mary Hoover visiting Sibu

Marshall and Velvet Douglas came to Sibu in March, 2014 to trace the history and footsteps of Mary Hoover in Sarawak. 

Mary Young Hoover was a grand aunt of Velvet who is a descendant of the Young family, who served as missionaries in Malaya. 

Mrs. Mary Hoover, of English origin, initially served in Malaya, and was an expert in Bahasa Malay. She even wrote a small dictionary (English-BM) She was introduced to Rev James Hoover, an American missionary serving in Sarawak. She spent 36 years with Rev James Hoover in Sibu, looking after the Foochow immgrants. She set up the Mary Hoover Kindergarten and the Yuk Ing Girls School in Sibu which became the fore runner of the Methodist School, a premier school in Sarawak.

After the death of Rev James Hoover in 1936, she continued to work in Sibu until the war. During the WW2 she was in Perth, but returned to Sibu in 1946. She was aging then. However she was able to choose 2 of her good students, Tiong Yuk Ging and Tiong Ing Lang, to succeed her as principals of the kindergarten. The Yuk Ing School became Methodist Primary School. Later in 1949, the Methodist Secondary school was set up in Queensway.

Chinese newspaper article about the Douglases' visit.

Ruth Young (sister of Mrs. Mary Young Hoover) and Pamela Young who came to visit Sibu, Sungei Merah. Photo taken on the bridge. 

Velvet chatting with Ms Teng Lung Ming (retired Principal), one of the successors of Mary Hoover, Principal of the Mary Hoover Kindergarten, Sibu established in 1918.

Wong Meng Lei and Pro Steve with the Douglases

Velvet and Marshall Douglas in the Hoover Memorial Garden with Pro Steve

Mrs. Mary Hoover retired after much persuasion by the Foochow Methodist leaders of Sibu. She was in Singapore for a year and then finally chose Perth, where she had a brother. She was visited by many Sibu students who studied in Australia. Many of her GIRLS from Yuk Ing School also supported her.

She passed away in 1962 and was buried in Perth.

The Douglases were given a good tour of the Sibu mission area and followed the footsteps of Rev and Mrs. James Hoover in the Rajang Basin with Meng Lei Wong and a few others.

 Following the visit, Velvet completed her book on the Young Family and had it published privately.

We were glad that she showed us old photos of the missionaries of Malaya and especially those of the Young Family. We had such connections with her through shared history.

Marshall and Velvet Douglas also visited a primary school set up by Rev James Hoover with Meng Lei. They were happy to meet a school security guard who was in full uniform. This wooden school (Boi Ing ) was founded by Rev James Hoover for the Foochow pioneers. It is the alma mater of Meng Lei who came from this village called 24 acres.

Marshall Douglas was a Boys Brigade member in the UK.

NOTE : In Dec 2017, we received the sad news of Marshall's passing, suddenly and unexpectedly he passed away at the beginning of Sept 2017 from leukaemia. May his soul rest in peace.