Chung (Mike) Liu

Chung Liu, known by most as just Mike, passed away peacefully the morning of May 11, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was 72 years old.

Mike was born to Chuanfang Liu and Jinxiang Huang on December 4, 1950, in Keelung, Taiwan. In 1978, Mike married Shirley Shi Tsau Liu, and they shared 45 year's worth of memories and adventures. And oh, what extraordinary adventures they had! In the early 1980s, Mike and Shirley immigrated to the United States with their two young children, Johnny and Jenny. Unwaveringly ambitious and relentlessly driven, Mike and Shirley pulled themselves up by their bootstraps to reach the elusive goal that so many hardworking immigrants strive for: the American Dream. In his pursuit of what he simply called "wanting to live his life," Mike's tenacity led him through various jobs, from humble beginnings as a busboy, waiter, cook, and electrician, to becoming a skilled sushi chef, baker, and finally, a successful restaurant owner. In 1993, he opened the first Cafe at Pharr, which continues to sell gourmet sandwiches and salads. Nearly two decades ago, Mike passed the business to his son, Johnny, who expanded the business into a thriving enterprise with multiple locations throughout Atlanta. 

 

A quiet, strong-willed, and passionate man, Mike possessed an insatiable curiosity for life's myriad wonders. Throughout his life, family and friends could find his nose buried in books about samurai swords, tinkering in the garage with an array of woodworking tools, or sitting in a corner strumming the pipa in front of his music teacher. And amidst all of these varied interests, Mike's greatest passion in life was fishing. Inspired as a young man by Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, Mike found solitude and simplicity in the art of fishing. His happiest, most cherished moments were spent casting lines from a pier in Pensacola.

 

Mike is survived by his wife, Shirley, and two children, Johnny and Jenny. His memory will also be cherished by Johnny's wife, Katie, and Jenny's husband, Chris. Born with a sweet tooth, one of Mike's favorite pleasures in life was letting his three adorable grandchildren—Gavin, Ellie, and Brody—sneak treats from his candy stash.