Ray C Young

Estes Park’s music icon Ray Young died at the Good Samaritan Society on September 15, 2018. Ray’s amazing smile always lit up the room and the world has lost an amazing and talented, man. Ray was born on March 31, 1928 to Herbert N. and Lela Young. He married Lenamae (Lennie) Brownell on August 28, 1949 in Hay Springs NE. Lennie passed away on October 25, 2005 and the couple had four children. Ray was born with music in his blood. He graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a major in liturgical pipe organ performance and has played for countless churches and musical venues throughout his 90 years of life. He was a music teacher at Western Nebraska College and lived in Scottsbluff, NE where he had a jazz trio and directed many church choirs. He taught at Chatham and moved to Lincoln, working on his Master’s degree until being drafted into the Army. He earned his Second Lieutenant status and then finished his Masters at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. In 1957 he moved his family to Cheyenne, WY where he was manager of Wells Music & Company and Commander of his Army Reserve Unit. He and the family moved to Denver in 1958 where he was promoted to Executive Officer of the Military Police in the Reserves and was also the manager of Hammond Organ Music Studios. The family moved to Estes Park in 1972 where he immediately joined the music scene, becoming the organist at the Community Church of the Rockies, playing music at Nicky’s Restaurant, the historic Stanley Hotel and at other venues too numerous to mention throughout Estes Park for musical groups, fund-raising events, professional performances and school events. Ray Young has been a fixture and constant source of spirit, fun, entertainment and humanity in the Estes Valley. His exceptional musical skills have entertained thousands for over half a century. He was a major feature in the Catch the Glow Parade, entertaining thousands of holiday parade goers throughout the years with his iconic music. Ray was promoted to “Organist Emeritus” in 2016 at the Community Church of the Rockies, after celebrating 75 years of music-making “on the bench.” He is renowned for his jazz piano playing and up until just recently was entertaining diners at Nicky’s Steak House in Estes Park. Ray has also generously taught many Estes Park kids to play the piano and for many years accompanied students in music programs at the Estes Park Schools, from pre-school through high school, inspiring youngsters onto the path of a musical career. He was always an encouraging presence for those who had musical aspirations and dreams. Ray was as humble as he was talented, and on August 28, 2018 Mayor Todd Jirsa and the Town of Estes Park declared it to be "Ray Young Day” and issued a special proclamation in his honor. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Lennie, brother Richard Young and son D. Mark Young. He is survived by his daughters Regan (husband David) Henley and grandson Alex Henley of Port Townsend, Washington and Jennifer Young of Overgaard, Arizona and son, Michael Young of Estes Park, CO. He is also survived by sister Marjorie and Darrel Schindler of Wilmington, Delaware and sister-in-law Donarae Cody. Ray always said he felt so very blessed to live in a small town like Estes Park and that this town was his family, that it's support sustained him constantly. A Memorial Celebration of Ray’s life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6th at 11 a.m. at the Community Church of the Rockies with a reception to follow. We will all miss Ray Young who was blessed with a tremendous musical talent that he shared with everyone he met.