Jeffrey Dean Young

Jeffrey Dean Young, known to all as Jeff, passed away peacefully on March 24th, 2026, at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 69. Born January 30th, 1957, in Terre Haute, Indiana, he grew up in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Jeff lived a life as original and colorful as the art he created, leaving behind a trail of great music, laughter, and wonderful (hilarious) memories.

Jeff received a guitar for his tenth birthday and never put it down. Music was not just his passion, but his constant companion. He wrote hundreds of songs over his lifetime, laying down every track himself, recording all the vocals and instruments with tireless detail. During his senior year at Southern Illinois University he took a detour and ventured out to Los Angeles with "The Good", a hometown band from Mt. Carmel, Illinois. They actually played at the legendary Troubadour!

Jeff later lived in New York City, playing music, moving celebrities, collecting more funny stories, and lifelong friends in NY and NJ. He eventually settled in Fort Worth near family and met Harmina (2003). He played with the "Allnighters" and continued sharing his guitar and harmonica music, finding joy in sharing his performances with his friends on Facebook. In a fitting testament to a life dedicated to music, the very last thing Jeff did was record a song, playing his guitar and harmonica, hitting every note, before going to bed and passing away peacefully in his sleep.

Jeff was on the 1974 Mt. Carmel High School state football playoff team, which he was credited with one of the plays that saved the game when he batted the ball away from the Quincy receiver in the end zone. Jeff was a true free spirit and one of a kind. Voted class clown in high school alongside his friend, Kyle, he had a sharp wit and a gift for making people laugh, whether through his impersonations, his abstract and brightly colored paintings of people you might recognize, or the funny characters he would sketch and leave around for others to find. Jeff was fiercely loyal to his family, living close to his parents so he could care for them when they needed him. He loved pawn shopping, collecting albums and guitars, performing and watching live music, teaching guitar, painting, reading voraciously, enjoying nature walks and bicycle rides with Harmina, and was a passionate patriot who loved SPIRITED discussions about America, politics, and sports.

Jeff was preceded in death by his mother and father, MaryLynn and Joe Young. He is survived by his brother, J.B. Young (Billy Bailey Young) of Midland, Texas, his sister, Ashley Young Burgardt (Phil Howard) of Arlington, Texas, dear friend and companion, Harmina Prins of Granbury, Texas, nieces and nephews whom he loved and they loved him including James Brandon Young (Jackson and Josie), Abby J'Lynn and Mathew King (Kennedy, Dawson, and Wylie), Taylor and Jacob Albo (Wyatt and baby-on-the-way), Shannon Nicole Young, and Amanda and Hilbert Jackson (Nolan, Nora, and Brady), Aunt Claris Withrow of Melbourne, Florida, Uncle Fritz Brian of Tavares, Florida, and Uncle Art Schmidt of The Hills, Texas, with many cousins and countless friends.

May Jeff find eternal peace in the presence of God, with a guitar always within reach.

Jeff will be deeply missed for his friendship, music, his quick wit, his original spirit, his love for country, family, friends, and, of course, the animals he saved.

A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, June 13th, 2026, at the VFW in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, beginning at 4:30 p.m. There will be plenty of Jeff's music and videos from his bands and friends. Come dance, laugh, and share your memories of Jeff.