Darla Dean Young, age 79 years, 7 months, 26 days of Springfield, MO passed away at 2:20 pm on Oct. 12, 2016 in Magnolia Square Nursing Center in Springfield, MO. She was a faithful member of the Grace Assembly of God Church in Springfield, MO.

Darla was born in Bixby, Oklahoma on Feb. 16, 1937 to John Steve and Ethel Geneva Cates Steve. She attended school in Bixby. In 1956, in California, she met and married a sailor, Lewis LeRoy Young and they spent 56 years together. To this union two sons were born. The first 20 years were spent being a service wife, traveling to several states with Lewis. She worked as a telephone banker in Texas and as an industrial worker in San Diego, California. After Lewis retired from the Navy in 1971, they moved to Mt. Vernon, Missouri, later moving to the present home in Springfield, MO. Darla was a great cook and loved to cook big meals for family at holidays. She enjoyed attending church each week and loved gospel music. She loved to square dance and play cards. Her father was from Bulgaria, and she was very proud of her heritage.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis LeRoy Young in 2009, her parents, brother Johnny Steve, sister Mary Sylsberry, brother-in-law Paul Charles Young and sister-in-law Joyce Young.

Darla is survived by son, Michael Lewis Young (Linda Kelley), Buffalo, MO; son, Kenneth LeRoy Young, Springfield, MO; daughter-in-law, Teri Lynn Young, Springfield, MO; three grandsons, Matthew Ryan Young, Adam William Young and Garrett Michael Young (Stormy Young), all from Springfield, MO; one granddaughter, Megan Elizabeth Hicks (Jordan Hicks), Springfield, MO; brother-in-law, Doug Young, Greenville, IL; sisters-in-law, Beverly Young, Morrison, IL, Avis Barnes (Dave Barnes), Syracuse, NY and Sharon Suiter (Bob Suiter), Big Bear California. Darla was also blessed to be a great grandmother to Miles Jackson Young.

When Darla was a young girl in 1949 she met Mary Sandra Potts Cox. This was a friendship that blossomed and grew for the next 67 years. Darla was also blessed to share a special friendship with her niece, Melinda Butler, Jeane Forsyth and Kathy Hitchock. Teri Lynn Young, her daughter-in-law, who was part of her life for 37 years, along with these three girls were Darla's chosen daughters.

Darla was a strong faithful Christian and loved her church. It was here she met Leonard Bailey, a retired pastor and strong Christian. Leonard brought smiles and laughter into her life. They went out to eat and went to church together. When her illness prevented her from going to church, Leonard would tell her about the sermons and read to her from the bible, praying each time he left her presence. He was a blessing to Darla and her family. Leonard and family members were with her as she left this world and joined her heavenly family.

Services for Darla Young will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 at 1:00 pm in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, Springfield, MO with Pastor Terry Webster officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Assembly of God, 514 W. Mt. Vernon, Springfield, MO 65806.