Kyle Young

Kyle was born on May 28, 1984, in Wichita Falls, TX to Donald and Renae Young. As a young boy Kyle participated in many sports activities including Little League baseball, football, and basketball. His father and Jimmy Duggins spent countless hours coaching Kyle as he developed his athletic skills. Kyle’s true love became football getting off to a quick start when Head Coach Weldon Nelms named Kyle as a varsity starter his sophomore year.

His football career as an Iowa Park Hawk was full of successes including earning All District Honors all three years, and finally receiving The Outstanding Hawk award his senior year. Kyle was recruited by several colleges accepting a 4 year scholarship to play football at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. He also received the Top of Texas football scholarship which is awarded to players who have participated in the Iowa Park program from Pee Wee through high school. The award is based not only on athletic achievement on the field but includes achievements within the community.

In the fall of 2004, Kyle decided to take his life in a different direction, enlisting in the US Navy and becoming a submariner on a ballistic missile submarine, The USS Pennsylvania. Kyle’s desire to excel allowed him to earn his Dolphins in only one run. This is a feat which takes most submariners two or more runs to accomplish. He also received an accommodation from the Admiral of the Navy for early promotion. Recently Kyle was awarded two Navy Achievement Medals recognizing his hard work and dedication to the US Navy. He achieved the rank of Second Class Petty Officer and was encouraged by his Senior Enlisted Officers to enter into the Officers Program. He had six months left on his six year enlistment to consider that option; however, his accident ended his Navy career.

Kyle earned the respect of his Officers and shipmates by always being the first one to go the extra step. He knew the job he was asked to do and did it willingly and with honor. He leaves behind a list of friends from the football fields of Texas to shipmates from around the world.

He was preceded in death by his great grandmother, Helen Young; grandfather, Donald Benny Young; and one uncle, Kenneth Young.

Surviving relatives include his father, Don Young and his wife, Linda of Wichita Falls; mother, Renae Young and Brad Ernest of Wichita Falls; brother, Eric Young of Bremerton, Washington on the USS John C. Stennis; step brother, Brady Donart and his wife, Syna of Wills Point, TX; step brother, Payton Ernest of Wichita Falls; step sister, Chelsea Donart of Wichita Falls; aunts, Mary Naylor of Iowa Park; Carol Todd of Wichita Falls, and Cindy Bills, also of Wichita Falls; grandmother, Nettie Young of Iowa Park; grandparents, James and Sue Murehead of Wichita Falls; great grandmother, Clifton Scott of Wichita Falls; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Faith Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. Graveside Services, with full military honors, will follow at Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home. Honorary Pallbearers will be Andy Simpson, Jeremy Wilson, Nick Kennedy, Anthony Graf, Bryan Swenson, and Adam Arrington. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, February 26, 2010 at the funeral home.

Kyle Young was more than a son, more than a grandson, more than a brother, more than a friend, more than a defender of our country – Kyle was a living inspiration which will continue to live in the lives he touched.