Roy Edward Young, Sr.

November 5, 1927 ~ June 22, 2014

ABBEVILLE— A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, honoring the life of Roy Edward Young, Sr., 86, who died at his home on Sunday, June 22, 2014.
Deacon William "Billy" Vincent will officiate the service.
Roy was born in Grant, Louisiana, on November 5, 1927, and was the eldest son of Everett Sashary and Emma Turner Young. He graduated from Fairview High School in 1945 and entered Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette) where he earned a basketball scholarship. In 1946 Roy enlisted with the United States Navy and proudly served his country from 1946 to 1948. After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1948, Roy returned to SLI and earned a starting position as a guard for the SLI Bulldogs basketball team. Known by his teammates as “Pepper” Young, Roy earned numerous sports honors and graduated from SLI with a degree in Dairy Husbandry. After his graduation from SLI, Roy and his family moved to Abbeville where he worked as the manager of the Vermilion Creamery. In 1957, Roy decided to enter into the oil industry as an oilfield contractor. During his business years he was President of Young-Tow, Inc., Roy Young, Inc., Roy Young Real Estate and Insurance, Roy Young Concrete, and Roy Young Trucking, Inc. After retiring in the mid 1980s, Roy started a fruit and vegetable nursery and enjoyed the remaining years of his life in his gardens. He gained a considerable reputation as an expert in the agricultural and horticultural field and often gave tours and instructions to Vermilion 4-H clubs and groups from the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center.
Roy is survived by his four children and their spouses, fifteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren: Roy Edward Young, Jr., his wife Kellie Michaud Young and their three sons Clay, Andre, and Beau; Marie Marleen Y. Thompson, her husband Thomas B. Thompson and their children Rachel, Andrew, and John; Roger Kim Young, his wife Starlett Trahan Young and their children Mikela, Douglas, Everett, Jarrett, and Meraiah; and, Judy Kay Y. Simon, her husband Robert James Simon and their children Jed, Ada, Jacob, and Rebecca. Roy is also survived by the mother of his children, Dolores Gros Young; one brother, Joseph Earl Young and his wife Janet of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and, one sister-in-law, Patricia Young of Memphis, Tennessee.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Emma Young; and brother Carl Everett Young.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles Street, on Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. until time of service.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincent-abbeville.com.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville (337) 893-4661.
The family appreciates all those who provided comfort and support in Roy’s last days including friends, care givers Becky Carmouche, Felicia Carmouche, Robert and Lori Soileau, and the staffs of Acadian HomeCare and Hospice of Acadiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roy Young’s memory to the Vermilion 4-H Foundation, 1105 W. Port Street, Abbeville, LA 70510.