A Tribute To My Mom

On this first Mother’s Day without her.

This evening I was with my brothers and sister and all our families ahead of a big event tomorrow, which will be on Mother’s Day. One of my nieces, — my sister’s daughter is getting married. It is a happy occasion and we all will celebrate it to the fullest.

However, it is coming after a difficult time, especially for my older brother and his wife because they supported our mother in their home for the last seven years of her life with the final three completely confined to bed. When it became necessary, she received twenty-four hour nursing care. Even with this help it has been a difficult chapter in their lives with very little time away from home and her care.

After she died my brother Dan asked me to write her obituary and I did so with a great deal of help from all of my siblings and their spouses.

It occurred to me late this evening that you might find my mother’s story interesting, even inspiring. I hope you do. Also, perhaps the listing of my family members, as is common in these types of documents, will remind you of all those genealogical lists in the Old Testament.

Obituary for Mary Carolyn Young

Our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, Mary Carolyn (Mickey) Young of Mountain Brook, Alabama passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the age of ninety-nine.

She was a Proverbs 31 lady and fits to a T the following verses:

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

Proverbs 31: 25-29 (ESV)

Mary Carolyn, Mickey, Mom, Mother, Grandmother, and GG — all the names her family and friends knew her by — was born on December 9, 1924, in Oakland, California where she grew up the only daughter of Preston Edward Snook and Martha Kathryn (Magaw) Snook along with her older brother Preston Edward (Pete) Snook, Jr.

On June 4, 1942, she graduated from Piedmont High School in Piedmont, California. Three years later, she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Spanish Literature. Mickey decided to skip her graduation ceremony on October 20, 1945, however, to marry William Lowell (Bill) Young. He was the love of her life and would graduate from dental school at the University of California at San Francisco the following year. They were happily married for sixty-four years until his death on November 21, 2009.

It is not possible to describe the humor, passion, selflessness, and courage of this magnificent lady, but here are a few interesting facts.

In 1944 she studied Spanish literature at the University of Mexico in Mexico City.

She learned to fly and obtained her private pilot’s license when Bill was in the United States Navy, stationed two years in Guam during the Korean War. In 1952, at the completion of his time in the navy, Bill was discharged in San Francisco. Mary Carolyn rented a private plane in San Diego where they were living, flew solo up to San Francisco, picked him up, and flew him back home. Soon thereafter, Bill got his license as well.

Also in 1952, she flew in the Transcontinental Women’s Air Race as the pilot for a two-woman team.

In 1953, Mother became a homemaker raising four children in El Cajon, California. She taught each one to read using a phonics method before they entered kindergarten.

Another memorable fact to us kids was she brushed our teeth nightly until we were each taller than she was. At the time we didn’t share this routine with our friends, but we credit her with the fact we didn’t have tooth decay problems growing up.

In the summer months she would drive her kids and any of their friends to a pool across town most weekday afternoons. Air conditioning wasn’t a big thing back then. This resulted in her kids being very popular with others and all becoming strong swimmers.

All four of her children obtained doctorate degrees, due in large part to her strong belief in the value of education.

In 1973 Mother became a believer in the saving grace of Jesus and, along with her entire family, joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She has always strongly believed in a healthy diet and exercise. She was swimming laps into her early 90’s. She also abstained from alcohol and eventually became a vegan.

It is very true Mother had strong opinions on many topics, but her strongest passions were poured out in loving her family and those in need.

Once Dad retired, they visited all 50 states and traveled around the world.

Mary Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and husband.

She is survived by four children and spouses: Daniel William Young MD and Madeline Childs Young of Mountain Brook, AL; Benjamin William Young DDS MS and Roseann Klatka Young of San Antonio, TX; Thomas William Young MD and Yara Cerna Young of Kansas City, MO; Susan Frances Young Crawford DDS and David Fondren Crawford of Tok, AK; and Linda Brassington Young of San Antonio, Texas.

She is survived by ten grandchildren: Beverly Erin Young Trent (Allen); Bradley William Young (Jennifer); Shelli Lynn Young Moore (Andrew); Kristen Nichole Young Holman (Daniel); Michael Thomas Young; Miriam Elaine Young Peckham (Theodore); Richard Thomas Young (Natalie); Betty Carolyn Crawford; Julian Lowell (Luke) Crawford; and Kimberley Ruth Crawford.

She is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.