Albert Ernest Young, age 90, died in his home in Kanab, Utah on July 8, 2021. A memorial service will be held at the Kanab 7th Ward LDS Chapel at 604 South 100 East in Kanab at 11 am on Saturday, July 17, 2021 with a viewing from 10:00 – 10:45 prior to the service.
Al was born on March 1, 1931 in Monticello, Utah where he lived until age 13. He was one of eight children born to Ernest Leslie Young and Mary Esther Jarvis Young. As a young man, he attended and graduated from high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He later completed a term of service with the U.S. Air Force, which furthered his life-long fascination with airplanes.
Married to Janice Marilyn Powell Young from 1955 to 1987, Al was the father of four children, Stan, Ken, Wendy and Valerie. The family lived in the San Jose area of California, Boulder, Colorado, and St. George, Utah.
Al was a man who greatly enjoyed the outdoors, spending much time traveling and finding adventures throughout Southern Utah, as well as many other places. Hiking, camping, hunting, canoeing, rappelling, skiing, biking, horse riding and airplane flying were some of his active passions. A creative and talented man, Al was skilled with a whittling knife, and his many walking sticks have become a big part of his legacy. He was known to many in Kanab as “the Stickman”.
In 1992, Al married Barbara Wiatrak Young; they celebrated their marriage of 29 years together on July 5th. They have lived in Kanab for 20 years, have loved the people and the community very much, and have been members of the Kanab 7th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Al and Barbara were inseparable and had many similar interests. They were writers and poets and performed as professional clowns for several years. Al was helpful and kind to those in need and was always ready to help. He will be missed more than words can express.
Al is survived by two sisters, Ethel Millard and Dorothy Handy; one brother, Joseph Young; one son, Ken Young; two daughters, Wendy Wishart and Valerie Melton; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.