John Raymond Young

From a mother’s soft whisper of prayer to a father’s exuberant sound of joy, John Raymond Young was born on the 11th of May 1983, in Houston, Texas. The firstborn and only son of his proud parents, Ron and Tina Young, he was always a source of pride and joy. He was never far behind his dad, whether fishing, golfing, snow skiing or throwing balls in the backyard. John’s mother relished nurturing his curious mind and blooming, unique personality as the years flew by.

Two and a half short years later, John was blessed with his sweet sister, Courtney, who was undeniably his best friend and cohort in multiple adventures throughout their lives. They shared loving hearts and gifted minds, and both were chosen to participate in the Spring Branch Independent School District’s SPIRAL program for the gifted and talented. John’s bright mind was never short of ideas and inventions, and he expressed his creativity in his own way. He definitely marched to the beat of his own drummer! He enjoyed art and was a talented illustrator. He often drew cartoons and wrote poems as gifts for many that became cherished family treasures. He had the most delightful sense of humor and a near photographic memory and could entertain everyone with near-perfect impressions of any actor’s voice and lines from any movie he’d seen!

An eager learner, he sought and shared his knowledge and opinions freely, which always resulted in lively conversations with his family and friends. His sparkling personality was full of fun and sheer joy, truly lighting up a room when he arrived on the scene.

He began his education at Hunters Creek Elementary, continued at Spring Branch Middle School, and was a 2001 graduate of Memorial High School in Houston, Texas. He received his B.S. in Economics from the University of Oklahoma and became an avid Sooner football fan, just like his dad, whose roots were in Oklahoma. Wishing to follow in his father’s footsteps, he pursued a law degree at South Texas College of Law, earning numerous honors along the way, including induction into the Order of the Lytae in 2019 for outstanding academic achievement and the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in both Legal Research & Writing and Contract Building Blocks. He graduated summa cum laude from South Texas in December of 2020. His dream realized, he joined his father in the law firm of Young & Brooks. His father was so blessed to have his daughter and son, both attorneys, working hand in hand with him throughout their careers.

John had a love for sports and was a golfer from his early days on the Memorial High School golf team. He will be missed by the many friends he met at Lochinvar, Bentwater, Red Sky, and Country Club of the Rockies, where he played throughout the years. His talent was obvious, but his “go big or go home” attitude kept his score high enough to retain joyful competitors. His fearlessness on the golf course was only exceeded by his fearlessness on the ski slopes, attacking the snowy slopes of Colorado with the speed and grace of a bird in flight. He was actively involved in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a member of the Steer Auction Committee for multiple years, where he forged many new and close friendships.

Alongside John’s many accomplishments and talents, he always maintained a humble heart. He had a deep faith in God and sought His counsel through life’s triumphs and hurdles. In his day-to-day life, he most valued people. He never shied away from friends and family, offering encouragement on their dark days and sharing their happiness and joy on their bright days. John was a hugger; he hugged everyone he met. He made friends everywhere he went and cared for those relationships throughout his life. John sought the “good” in every human being and was blessed with a forgiving and loving heart in all circumstances. He had way more fun giving than receiving, and his unconditional love was a continual blessing. He grew in faith through the years at Chapelwood United Methodist Church with his family, and he shared his faith primarily by his living example. He held no grudges and never could let a day end on anything less than expressions of love.

Although his sparkling light can never be duplicated, we shine brighter because we have basked in his glow while he was here. He ran his race well and never forgot that all gifts of life were gifts of grace to be used for God’s glory. His last Instagram message to his mom was all about focusing on the positive, focusing on what you have versus what you don’t have. God surely spoke through him to send us these words we would so need to hear.

The family is deeply grateful to the many family members and friends who prayed from afar and came to his bedside to share stories and remembrances from their hearts. Learning how many lives he touched along his journey has given us treasured new memories of this beautiful life we were all so blessed to share with John.

John is preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe Doss and Emma Alzada Young and Lowell Wayne and Peggy Joan Warnock. John is survived by his parents, Ron and Tina Young; his sister, Courtney (Young) Doherty, her husband, Colin, and their daughter, his beloved niece, Emmaline; his uncle and aunt, Larry and Carolyn Kitchens; his uncle and aunt, Curt and Julie Warnock; his cousins Mark, David, Kathy, Lee, Joshua, Vanessa, Melissa, Michael, and Adam; and numerous close second cousins.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 22nd of October, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be offered at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 23rd of October, at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street in Houston, where Rev. Dr. John E. Stephens is to officiate.

For those unable to attend, you may join via livestream by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service section below.

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” ~ Colossians 3:14