Rev. Robert E. Young's Obituary
Rev. Robert Emerson Young 87, of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas peacefully entered God’s Heavenly Kingdom Sunday, December 7, 2014. Bob is survived and forever missed by his loving wife of 13 years, Mary Jane Young; twin sister Elizabeth Jane Young; son Robert E. Young, Jr. and wife Paula; daughter Monika Moulin and husband Kirk; daughter Rebecca Elder and husband Jay; stepson Loy Frazier, III and stepdaughter Jennifer Huff and husband Jerry; grandchildren Chris Young and wife Katie; Paige Blankenship and husband Justin; Lacey Young; Blake Elder; Matthew and Meghan Frazier and Hunter Huff; great grandchildren Brady Hart and Baker Jay Blankenship; numerous family members and friends and the thousands of people whose lives he touched. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 39 years, Katherine Ann Young; his parents, E.E. and Rebecca Young; his brothers, Cy, Wendell and Dink and sisters Clarice, Wilma and Mary. Blessed with a successful academic and athletic high school experience, Bob got on a train from Bedford, Indiana to Fort Worth, Texas to attend TCU on a basketball scholarship. He became a letterman and student body president and met Katherine Frank, later to become his wife and the mother of his 3 children. After graduation, he continued his education achieving a Masters of Theology at SMU Perkins before embarking on a 60 plus year career of ministry in the United Methodist Church. Bob served in Fort Worth, Richland Hills, Waxahachie, Waco, Dallas and Grand Prairie. After the death of his wife in 1989, his ministry led him to Executive Director of Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During this ministry he became more active in Rotary International, serving as a District Governor and member of the acclaimed Rotary Chorus. Through mission trips and chorus concerts, he traveled worldwide – Chile, Philippines, Panama, Peru, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, England, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Bruit, Greece, Spain, Portugal and South Africa. Throughout his ministry, he officiated over 1,500 funerals, 1,800 weddings and 600 baptisms. After his formal retirement from the ministry in 1995, though no retirement from an active life, Bob settled in East Texas. He then married the second love of his life, Mary Jane, and his life was forever greatly enriched. They became more active in Rotary and Arkansas athletics with Bob serving as the Chaplain of the Arkansas Razorback Road Hogs for 11 years. Bob and Mary Jane loved to travel, visiting 36 states, Canada and Mexico. Bob returned to the pulpit serving at First United Methodist Church of Hawkins, Texas. During this non-retirement retirement phase, his family, along with his steadfast faith, remained at the center of his life. As his health declined, he continued to exude his passionate and magnetic personality toward family, friends and all who visited him under the exceptional care of the doctors, nurses, and all health care professionals at East Texas Medical Center and Waterton Plaza in Tyler, Texas. A truly genuine and great man, Bob provided peace, hope and love to all he encountered. A Visitation at Liberty United Methodist Church Wednesday, December 10 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and a Memorial service at First United Methodist Church in Quitman, Texas on Thursday, December 11th at 10:00 a.m. There will be an additional Memorial Service at Richland Hills United Methodist Church in Richland Hills, Texas on Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Liberty United Methodist Church (300 CR 3138 Quitman, Texas 75783) or Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center (www.mountsequoyah.org). Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243
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