Marcelle Young

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Marcelle Young who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Marcelle was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Marcelle knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

      Marcelle was born on January 31, 1938 at Martinique in Fort-de-France. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Leury. Marcelle was raised in Martinique and France. Even as a youngster, Marcelle learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

      As a young girl, Marcelle was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Marcelle was raised with six siblings. She had four younger brothers and two younger sisters. Marcelle had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Marcelle, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

      Marcelle's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood. As a young girl, Marcelle enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Marcelle took part in swimming. She was a well loved member of the Martinique and French community. In her spare time she liked visiting with her family and friends. Marcelle's memorable achievements included accomplished swimmer and dancer.

      In school, Marcelle was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Marcelle was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Marcelle’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” She graduated from Lycee de Neuilly in Paris, France in 1960. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was French and English. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Legrand.

      Marcelle’s practical work ethic carried over into her college years. Her logical mind permitted her to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. She would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Marcelle’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped her stay on track but often put her ahead of schedule. When Marcelle saw the need or benefit, she would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in General Business from Ecole de Pigier in Paris, France in 1963. Her favorite courses were Accounting and Business Management. Her favorite professor was Mr. Chevalier. Marcelle's interest included improving her business skills and French and English skills and won a fellowship to study in England for a semester.

      Marcelle was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Marcelle was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Marcelle came to expect her high standards of performance. Later in life, she became friends with George Coombs, Joana Stockmeyer, Rose Leslie, Earline Pradia, and Bernice Flix and her family.

      An objective and conscientious individual, Marcelle reveled in the security of her family. On February 5, 1970 Marcelle exchanged wedding vows with Leo Young at the Riceville Church of Houston, Texas. One of Marcelle’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

      Marcelle was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Marcelle would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Marcelle was blessed with one child, a daughter, Elizabeth.

      Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Marcelle was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Marcelle was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Marcelle upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was in accounting. She was employed for numerous years with Sandefer Oil and Gas and Bechtel. Marcelle was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

      Marcelle approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were needlework like knitting, crocheting, and cake decorating. Marcelle was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Marcelle to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included swimming and walking. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football, tennis, soccer and basketball.

      Being generous with her time and energy, Marcelle liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. She was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. Her desire to uphold traditions and her ability to take charge of any type of project made her a tremendous asset. Throughout her later years, Marcelle was an active member of the Bayland Community Center.

      Faith was important to Marcelle. She held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay she saw around her. For that reason she held deep spiritual beliefs that she was willing to share. She was a member First Baptist Church of Houston and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for many years. During that time, she was an active member.

      When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Marcelle used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Marcelle had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included Paris, France, Martinique, Jamaica and an Alaskan Cruise.

       She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In retirement, she found new pleasure in traveling, knitting, crocheting, and spending time with her family and friends. In many ways, Marcelle loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

      Marcelle passed away on May 21, 2023 at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas. Marcelle fought a brave battle against cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth.

      All who knew her would agree that Marcelle was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Marcelle Young did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.

Marcelle's family will receive friends on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St., Texas 77401, followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 PM.

For those desiring, memorials may be made in Marcelle's memory to Save The Children Federation. Click below for more information.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Young family.