Tom, her husband of 66 years, was by her side.  Mary was born on November 15, 1922, in Gainesville, TX to Marguerite and George Murphy.  The family soon moved to Dallas.  Her father died when she was a small child and her mother later married Vivian Orrill. 

    Mary was educated in Dallas.  On her twentieth birthday, she married Thomas (Tom) R. Young, Jr. of Memphis, Tennessee.  Shortly afterwards he left to serve in the US Army Air Corp in World War II.  After his return they lived briefly in Chicago, then in Bartlesville, OK where their son Thomas R. Young III was born.

    In 1953, following Tom’s return from active duty service in the Air Force during the Korean War, the family moved to Oak Cliff in Dallas.  They were members of Tyler Street United Methodist Church for forty-eight years, where Mary was active in the children’s and youth programs for many years.  She served as sponsor of the College and Career Class for fifteen years and she was co-president with her husband of the Anniversary Sunday School Class.  She was Mother of the Year in 1980.

    Mary was an enthusiastic bridge player and loved being with people, especially young people.  She served as president of her son’s high school’s Parent Teachers Association and held a lifetime membership in the National PTA.  She also was president of the Oak Cliff Lions Auxiliary and received an honorary lifetime membership.  She served on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries in Dallas for three years.

    For several years Mary enjoyed being a tour director for Shiney Penny Tours, leading bus tours to numerous places of interest, most frequently to Branson, Missouri.

    In 2001 Mary and Tom moved to Boise to be near their son and his family.  They were warmly received by the fellowship of the Meridian United Methodist Church.  Mary quickly won the hearts of everyone there with her enthusiasm, her compassion and her generosity.  Each Sunday she would greet every person pew by pew.  She had an unusual talent for decoration and was well known for her extensive collections of Santa Clauses and Teddy bears.  She was a beloved member of the Boise Valley POW/MIA Awareness Corp and a member of the Warhawk Air Museum.

    Mary ‘s parents, her sister Beth and a grandson, Thomas Young IV, preceded her in death.  She is survived by her husband Tom, her son Dr. Tom Young III and daughter-in-law Gloria of Boise, grandsons Chris and James Young of Nampa, step-grandchildren Matt Robinson and Kim Buchholz, sister-in-law Betty Coker of Midland, TX; niece Colette Mayo and her husband Leland of Edmond, OK; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Condolences

Sender's Name: Natalie and Richard D. Hill, Sr.

Sender's Name: Bill Melton