Surrounded by her family, on July 14, 2026, Luanei Ma’ae Houk left her earthly home and was immediately present with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Luanei was born on August 19, 1944 in the village of Taputimu, American Samoa to Tafe and Ituau Ma’ae. In this small village by the ocean, she developed her strong cultural heritage and gained a foundation of music and faith. The family relocated to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when Luanei was 8, and she quickly adjusted to a new culture and language. Her life was forever changed when she professed her faith in Jesus as her Savior and Lord at 15 years of age. In 1963, she graduated from Radford High School and then attended the College of Commerce in Honolulu. Soon after she turned 20, Luanei married Walter Houk and the newlyweds settled in Clinton, Missouri, and had their first daughter, Tiare. The family moved to Ottawa, Kansas, in 1970, where their two other daughters, Laini and Pele, were born. In 1979, the family moved to Enumclaw, Washington, where she lived the majority of her life.

Luanei worked for the Enumclaw School District and retired after 30 years as Secretary of Support Services. She became a mother-in-law to three wonderful men: Travis, Israel, and Airton, and gained four beautiful grandchildren, Terenn Iosefa, Esias Kenese, Luanei Israel, and Maika Israel. Although Luanei lived in Washington, she also stayed with family for extended periods of time in Tennessee and her final two years were spent there, warming the hearts of all who met her with loving smiles and joyful singing.

Those who knew Luanei were blessed by her vitality and magnetic personality. She made friends everywhere she went and brought laughter and fun with her. She was active in church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, a youth leader, and worship leader. She opened up her home to family and friends and enjoyed deep conversations. She was a fierce competitor on the softball field and was actively invested in the lives of her children and grandchildren, cheering them on from the sidelines or on her knees in prayer. Most of all, Luanei deeply loved her Savior and enjoyed sharing about the joy Jesus brought to her life. Second to that was her love for her family.

Luanei’s legacy of faith and family is carried on to those she has left behind for a short while: Tiare Santos (Airton), Laini Goodlett (Travis), Pele Godkin (Israel), and their father Walter Houk (Margaret); grandchildren Terenn Houk, Esias Goodlett, Luanei Godkin, and Maika Goodlett; sister, Venise Alo; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law Israel Godkin; parents Tafe and Ituau Ma’ae; siblings Taouli Ma’ae (Foutama), Vevesi Ma’ae (Cheryl), Etisone Ma’ae, Taloline Alo, and Sasa Silifaiva.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 5 at 11:00AM at Grace Point Northwest, 2060 Farman St N, Enumclaw, WA 98022.

We invite you to sign the guestbook below and share any photos or memories you have of Luanei.