Kathleen A. Young

Kathleen Young was born on November 2, 1948, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to John F. Young and Florence M. Cavanaugh. She shared her childhood home with her sister Mary Alice Carpenter. She left her hometown in the late 1960's and went to St. Louis where she graduated from Webster College and went on to law school at St. Louis University.

After graduation, Kathleen moved to Kokomo, Indiana where she was one of the very first female attorneys in Howard County. She began her legal career with the UAW and eventually ran her own law firm. She loved to teach and taught night classes at IUK. Kathleen worked to protect the vulnerable. She clothed and fed migrants, routinely represented the elderly and served as a juvenile public defender. Most recently she taught foster children to swim at the YMCA. For many years, Kathleen was heavily involved at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She worked coffee and donuts most Sundays and attended fish fries, and bazaars. She loved her church and she met most of her best friends in the basement of St. Patrick’s.

Kathleen met Bob Ferguson around 1977. He caught her eye as the stand-up bass player in a band. Bob could sing and dance and made her laugh. They married and had one son together before separating in 1983. Kathleen went on to raise her son alone. She valued experiences over things, so she and her son John traveled frequently. Kathleen was a scuba diver and her favorite place on earth was Chankanaab Reef. She took nearly annual trips to Cozumel and adored the ocean. In addition to travel, Kathleen loved music and she loved to laugh.

Kathleen is survived by her son, her daughter-in-law, and her three beautiful grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephews and their children. In her last days, Kathleen was surrounded by love and prayer. Her dear friends from Kokomo kept a near constant presence by her side.