Sarah Etta Young

Sarah E. Young felt God’s welcoming arms on November 5, 2016, as she joined her beloved husband, John Edwin Young, and completed her nuclear family, joining parents, Elizabeth Millsap Minter and William Francis English and sisters, Carolyn Frances Roderick and Elizabeth Ann Orthwein in heaven.

Sarah was born June 23, 1930 in Columbia, Missouri and lived in Fayette, Carrollton, and Fulton during her childhood. She was a 1948 graduate of David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, and in 1952 received a BS Degree in History from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She and John were married on August 2, 1952, and moved to Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1950, she was Grand Worthy Advisor of the Order of Rainbow for Girls. She was a card-carrying Lifetime Girl Scout, has served on the University of Missouri-Columbia Friends of the Library Board since 1981, was past president of the KC-SM Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter, and founding member of its Garden Group (started 1976) and Book Club (started 2002), and a 50-year member and Life Deacon of the First Baptist Church. She was employed by the Kansas City, Missouri School District as a Parent Educator for 15 years in the 1960’s and 70’s. She was involved in Church Women United, Tri Psi, and PTA, and loved The Kansas City Repertory Theatre and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Sarah and John had a very special marriage and they were life partners in their mutual and independent endeavors. They were known for holding hands in public and had celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary before John’s death in 2009. They enjoyed knowing people from other parts of the world and for 14 years sponsored international officers at Ft. Leavenworth. Untold numbers enjoyed their hospitality as houseguests, including most recently, Louisenie Desauguste ’Dezo’.

Sarah leaves behind her five children, Sarah Kathryn Manda ‘Kathie’ (Gil), Laura Elizabeth Tourtellot ‘Laurie’ (Nick), Julia Elaine Law ‘Julie’ (Stan), John Gregory Young ‘Greg’ (Eileen) and Christopher Lee Young ‘Chris’ (Stacie). She loved her twelve grandchildren, Will (Susan), Jay (Whitney), Sarah (John Halcomb), and Frank (Kirsten) Manda, David and John Tourtellot, Brad Law, Jill Young Reilly (Ryan), Catharine and Emily Young, Abbie and Maddie Young, and ten great-grandchildren, Gary, Fritz, Luke, Hank, and Walt Manda, Etta Kate, Matilda, Margaret, and Trudy Manda, and George Halcomb and they loved her! She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was a steadfast friend to many.

Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 27, at First Baptist Church, 100 W. Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64114. Women are invited to wear hats. Reception will follow the service.

For those who would like, memorial contributions may be made to the Haitian Student Fund at First Baptist Church, or the University of Missouri-Columbia (Friends of the Library), 104 Ellis Library, Columbia, Missouri 65211, or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.