Sally Holland Young

Sally Holland Young, 75, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2025, following a lengthy illness. She was born on October 22, 1949 in Dallas, Texas, to Dr. John Holland and Mrs. Marian Martin Holland. She attended Hillcrest High School where she was Captain of the Drill Team and graduated at the top of her class. She attended Southern Methodist University where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Beta Kappa, a freshman cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. She excelled in school, receiving a degree in Mathematics and graduating with high honors. After several years teaching high school Math and English in Austin, Texas, Sally made her home in Houston.

Sally met John, her loving husband of 35 years, on a blind lunch date in 1988, and they quickly discovered each had found “the one.” They married the following year, blending their two families together, with her two children and his four. With their six children ranging in age from 7 to 22, Sally jokingly referred to their family as a modern-day Brady Bunch. Sally was a devoted wife, loving mother and stepmother, and a warm, gracious friend. Sally enjoyed serving others and spending time with people she loved. She was active in the Junior League of Houston, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Houston Alumni Association, the Memorial Drive Garden Club and served on various school PTA boards. She proudly served two terms as President of the River Oaks Women’s Golf Association, and was active in her bridge and needlepoint groups.

Sally had many hobbies. Her passion for the game of golf began early, when her father taught her to play at age 8. She was an excellent golfer and a fierce competitor. The golf course was her happy place, where she made great memories with John and her many golfing buddies. Sally also loved to water ski and snow ski. Sally and John enjoyed spending time in Colorado with their family and friends, skiing in the winter and playing golf in the summer. They also enjoyed recounting stories and sharing memories of their travels together all over the world. Sally was beautiful, both inside and out, brilliant, passionate, funny, adventurous, fun-loving and truly lived her life to the very fullest.

She is survived by her husband, John Barrett Young, Sr.; her daughter, Amanda Graham and husband Barney, son John Holland and wife Stephannie; stepchildren, Barry Young and wife Elizabeth, Jeff Young and wife Jill, Greg Young and wife Stephanie, Julie Sudduth and husband Drew; and her 15 treasured grandchildren, Hayden, Natalie, Sally Anne, Sebastian, Sunny, Isabel, Sophia, Will, Hank, Claire, Ainsley, Mary Caroline, Jack, Phillip and Emma. She is also survived by her sister, Susan Kennedy and husband Paul, niece Lisa Kennedy and husband Kelley Allen, nephew Paul Kennedy and wife Merritt, and their families.

A celebration of Sally’s life will take place on Thursday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow. A live stream will be available at https://memorials.stlukesmethodist.org/sally-young/ Sally’s family would like to thank Jessica Garcia, Dr. Jeff Lee and the staff at Bayou City Hospice and The Hallmark, for all the love and compassionate care they provided her. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made in Sally’s memory to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at www.curealz.org, or 34 Washington St., Suite 230, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; Good Samaritan Foundation www.gsftx.org, or St. Luke’s Methodist Church Foundation www.stlukesmethodist.org/foundation.