Eulogy I wrote and read at Dads Funeral

My Dad was a great dad.  He spent a lot of time with us when we were little.  Every saturday was our time to spend with him while mom worked.  Saturdays are the busiest days for hairdressers and mom needed a break from us little animals.  We never really had much money, as a kid you don't notice that at all, as a kid all you want is time.   Dad would take us to Traders Village, we would run around looking at everything. We would get 2-3 dollars to spend on toys.  That went pretty far at Traders Village.  He would also take us fishing off the bank of mountain creek lake, shooting at the gun range.  I was about six when Dad taught me how to shoot his 357 magnum, it was like holding a 2x4, I could barely hold it up so I wasnt very accurate, but doing those things builds confidence, thats why dad taught us.  We would go to the Grand Prarie dump once every 2 months.  The dump was awesome, so much stuff to see, and we would always get theos fried chicken afterwards.  We would go see family as well, many staurdays were spent with Aunt Betty and Uncle James, Aunt Tootie, Uncle Walter and Kim and Garys.  These were simple things, they meant a lot to us because it was time with our dad. 
  He was a very special man, he would talk to complete strangers like he had known them for years.  They would immidiatly fall in and start talking back the same way.  He was disarming and approachable.  "He never met a stranger" is the saying.   I learned that from him although Im not quite as good at it as dad was.  He was always the life of the party, and the Youngs had a lot of parties.  These were huge events,  they could drink a Frat house right under the table and keep going.  
  Before he was my dad, he was a young man, active in sports and worked hard at the Methodist home.  He mowed lawns all the time.  He worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife for a while, there is a fantastic picture of him catching deer live.  It was dangerous and hard work.  You could tell he loved it by the way he talked about it.  "We would use nets to channel the herd closer together.  Then explosive charges lauched the catch net over the herd."   He told me "you had to run in there and get those deer untangled quick, they would panic and start kicking hard enough to break their own legs, or they would go into shock from fear"  You can see the intensity in his eyes it that picture.  You dont get that look in your eyes flipping burgers, that was a real job with real consequenses.  Once they relocated a herd due to flooding, the deers hooves had gotten soft from all the water. He said "When we released them onto the dry rocky ground they tiptoed around for a whole day because the rocks hurt their little hooves."   
    He served in Vietnam, he was one of the first people in Vietnam to be issued the "new M-16"  Im grateful he came out of all that and still had the ability to smile.   The tet offesive happened right after he left, had he still been there it would have been bad for him.  
  Dad loved Mom so much, mom was always treated with the utmost repect and love.  He never said anything mean or hurtful to mom.  We drove her crazy because were were dirty kids and were kinda lazy, but we got better.  We always treated Mom with respect and love the way dad taught us to with his actions.  He probably did'nt realize when he married mom he would be driving us all 1000 miles to pine ridge indian reservation every summer.  But he did it every year.  We would ride horses, and shoot guns.  Mom's family all fell in love with Dad too, its impossibile not to. 
  Like most chidren I didn't really understand how great dad was until I got older.  You start to see the world and look back.  You start to appreciate what you have.  I work hard to always be a man my dad would be proud of. 
  Dad touched many lives, he had lots of friends and family.  I believe the world was lucky to have Tommy Young.   The world is a Lesser place without him
I miss him ,    We all miss him

A good man.  You will be missed.  Rest in peace.

You will be forever missed Uncle Tommy.  You are in good company with mom (Nancy), Aunt Tootie, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Walter, Grandma and Grandpa.  My love and heart goes out to Aunt Charlotte and cousins TJ and Kyle.  Love you with all my heart.

Tommy, you were always so kind to us kids. You raised two amazing sons, and I know you are proud of them. Peace go with you.

"A heart of gold stopped beating, two shining eyes at rest. God broke our hearts to prove, He only takes the best."
My condolences to the Young Family. I pray that God will bring you all through this time of grief. God bless you all.

great guy. great family. you will be missed......sorry I could not make it down.

Doug Justus

Rugged Good Lookin Man...Robert Redford Style!!!  Sure will miss you Uncle Tommy!!!!  
Love you, Steve and Melani

Rest in the arms of your Lord Jesus until you are reunited with your family again,

OBITUARY

Tommy Jay Young

September 17, 1944 – July 30, 2012

Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home Beltline Road

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services