John Gaylen Young

John Gaylen Young of Idaho Falls, formerly of Menan, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center of complications following surgery. He was born in Logan, Utah, September 12, 1925 as the fifth of fourteen children born to Einar August and Ruby England Young. He grew up in and attended schools at Logan and River Heights, where, as a young man he gained experience working many different jobs such as pulling weeds, shining shoes, washing dishes, paper routes, and working at the welfare center (which was where the Sunshine Terrace is currently located). He graduated from Logan High School in 1943. Shortly thereafter he was drafted into the Navy and served his first tour through 1946. His recruit training was in Farragut, Idaho, and he was stationed in the San Francisco, California area. Upon release he returned to Cache Valley and worked at the Capital Theater, and then as the Assistant Manager under Roy Taylor at the Roxy and Lyric. Seeking more challenge and adventure, he re-enlisted in the Navy in 1949 and served all around the world until his retirement in 1966 at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Tustin, California, as Chief Petty Officer. In June 1955 he and Dorothy Cook of Menan were married in the Idaho Falls L.D.S. Temple, where they began their lives together and traveled all over the world. Their two favorite homes were in Santa Ana and Santa Clara, California. John served on Midway Island with the Gooney Birds, and overseas during the early stages of the Vietnam War on the USS Lexington. He served as Chief Aviation Storekeeper on six Aircraft Carriers, the Valley Forge, the Keasarge, the Oriskany, the Wasp, the Essex, and the Yorktown. When they retired, John and Dorothy moved to Menan where they built a home on Dorothy’s family cattle ranch and raised their three children there. John worked as an Office Manager for Bell Builders in Rexburg and then with Friedman Bag until he retired in 1988. Dorothy passed away in 1986, and John never remarried. He was active in his church and served as Organist, Chorister, Home Teacher, Executive Secretary under three Bishops, Stake Auditor, Stake Purchasing Clerk, Sunday School and Elders Quorum President. John is survived by his children Tim Young of Bountiful, his wife Holly Forbis Young and their children Elizabeth, Tanner, Zachary, Jordan, Emma and Jacob; Miriam Ogden of Rigby, (Russell Ogden passed away in August, 2003) and their children Teisha, Todd, Jessie and Dalton; and Lexie Young of Idaho Falls. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in the Menan LDS Stake Center, 698 North 3600 East, Menan, with Bishop Garth Gunderson officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Annis Little Butte Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.