When Gong Yang — “Grace,” a nickname given by her husband — her three children and her husband, Joseph Caron, returned to Iola from China in July 2007 they found his home had extensive damage from flood waters.
Grace has an older daughter, Ying Yu, who is 19 and attends Allen County Community College. The couple’s twin daughters, Celina and Louise, 7, are students at Jefferson Elementary School.
“We had to live in a motel for a month until we could get someone to help with repairs,” Grace said.
The family eventually moved to a home near the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
Caron originally traveled to China to be a referee at the Olympics for the championship weightlifting competition. She said he liked China and sought employment so he could remain.
The couple met in 1999. He was working as vice principal at the Hong Kong, China, English School. She was a doctor at a hospital in Zhuhai.
As part of her practice she worked with injured athletes who needed acupuncture and deep point massages.
“My husband is well educated. He has a degree in education and also is a chiropractor with an office in Chanute,” she said.
The one-child policy in China didn’t apply to the couple even through she had a daughter from a previous marriage. She explained that since her husband didn’t have any children they could have a baby.
To her surprise when she went in for an ultrasound the doctor said, “I see many arms and legs. You are going to have twins.”
“I was so surprised but very happy,” she said.
After living in China for eight years, the family decided to return to the United States.
“We thought our children would receive a better education in the USA,” she said.
Grace sought employment in Iola as a massage therapist and was referred to Class Act Salon at 10 E. Jackson.
“Grace came in and asked if I had a room where she could give massages. After feeling the magic of her fingers, I said I’ll make room,” said Pam Tressler, owner of Class Act Salon.
“I was worried no one would need my services. My first client was Trudy Kenyon Anderson and my clientele continues to grow,” Grace said.
