Joe Allen Young passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, March 2, 2024, after we were thankfully blessed with his presence for 83 years.

Joe was born on September 13, 1940, in Bedias, Texas, and was the son of Lewis and Lorraine Young. His life’s purpose was to work harder than anyone else and to love and serve his family and friends without hesitation or complaint.  He was a loyal husband and a caring father and grandfather.  He made everyone laugh with his quiet, subtle, dry sense of humor.  He always showed up for the people he cared about and was a constant source of strength for his family and friends.  All the grandkids agree – he made the best breakfast and always made sure he was fully stocked with the best pool and soccer snacks.  He was unmatched and was a true example of quiet strength and leadership.

He had a lifelong career in the pipelining industry, which he started in 1959 working for Houston Contracting Company.  He began his career carrying water to the workers in the swamps and advanced to Superintendent and later retired as Chief Inspector. He laid pipe all over the country and in Thailand.  He loved the men that he worked with on the pipeline, as well as their families.  They were all his family away from home. In his younger years, Joe raced speed boats on the Mississippi River and enjoyed trick skiing.  In later years, as a parent, he passed on his love for the water by teaching his children to ski and swim.  He was a member of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, the Clean Water Bass Club, and the Ouachita Bass Club, along with his father-in-law, Conway Boyd, and his brother-in-law, Wayne Boyd.  Joe also enjoyed frog and deer hunting.  He was an avid reader and enjoyed westerns and mysteries.  He loved to weld, and he taught his grandson and other family members how to as well.  Joe could fix anything. He would say “if they (meaning paid repairmen) can fix it, you can too!”  He was a faithful member of the original Rays PeGe’s “coffee club” and was affectionately called “Mighty Joe Young.”  After retirement, he rarely missed an opportunity to hold his babies or to cheer on his grandchildren at their soccer games or dance recitals.

Joe was preceded in death by both of his parents, Lewis Allen Young and Lorraine Bracewell Young, his sister Lorretta Cupples and her husband Ronnie Cupples, and his nephew, Ron Cupples.

Joe has left behind many people that love him dearly, including his beloved wife of nearly 62 years, Carolyn Jane Boyd Young; daughter, Carolyn Young Murphy, and her husband, Frank Murphy, Jr.; daughter, Connie Young Scott, and her husband, Ronald Scott; and son, Lewis M. Young.  He is survived by 7 grandchildren – Joshua Murphy; Lauren McCarty; Jordan Murphy and his wife, Crystal Murphy; Morgan Frederick and her husband, Andrew Frederick; Matthew Scott, Elle Young, and Elin Young – as well as 5 great grandchildren – Keller McCarty, Hattie McCarty, John McKinley Murphy, Paul Murphy, and Poppy Murphy.  Joe is also survived by his sister, Debbie Greenwood, and her husband, Paul Greenwood; sister, Linda Baird; and special cousin, Bobby Merel Rigby.

Honoring Joe as pallbearers will be Joshua Murphy, Jordan Murphy, Matthew Scott, Frank Murphy, Jr., Ronald Scott, Andrew Frederick, Larry McCarty, Greg Baird, Kenneth Willingham, and Doyle Boyd.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Lakeshore Baptist Church, directly followed by a service to honor Joe at 2 p.m. under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe and to be officiated by Bro. William Smith.

The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to the staff at Glory Therapy for their weekly care of Joe.

To make a charitable donation in memory of Joe, please donate to his favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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