Bounthong Chanthavilay was born on August 2, 1953 to Pumma and Wanthong in Champassak, Laos.  He was the fourth out of seven siblings.  He met and married his first wife, Toumthong, in 1974.  In 1975, Bounthong and Toumthong left Laos and migrated to Thailand.  Their first daughter, Phaengsy (Lan) was born, then came came Visay (Ott) and Phayvanh (Thou).  In November 1987, Bounthong, along with his wife Toumthong, and three children, Lan, Ott, and Thou, moved to the United States.  Shortly thereafter, his fourth child, Phayvong (Jay) was born.  Soon after Jay was born, Bounthong's wife, Toumthong passed away in 1990.

In 1992, Bounthong moved his family to Shreveport, LA and married Khamnang Siharath and combined their households to form a new family.  Bounthong was a hard worker and was dedicated to his family and his job. As their children grew older and began moving out of their house, Bounthong and Khamnang spent all of their free time together and their relationship continued to flourish.  In recent years his health began to decline. He loved his job, and even after falling ill, his goal was to get better so he could go back to work.   After a long battle with liver cancer, on July 12, 2019, he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family and friends that loved him very much.

He is survived by his wife, Khamnang, his four children, Phaengsy (Lan), Visay (Ott), Phayvanh (Thou), and Phayvong (Jay), his five step-children, Vongphanet (Joe), Phoynareth (Lay), Paul, Soukphaphone (Alina), and Inthasone (Sone), along with their children.