Chaplain (Colonel) Jimmy L. Young, U.S. Army, Retired, entered God's Eternal Kingdom on January 3rd, 2024.  Born at Clear Creek, MO to Dwight A. and Charita Moody Young, on February 14th, 1935, one of five brothers in that family.  He attended Elwood, Strafford, and Shady Dell for elementary school, Strafford High School, and graduated from Senior High in Springfield in 1953.

Already a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, he was called to active duty in November of that year and was honorably discharged in 1960. He worked in Washington, D.C. until his firm transferred him to Myrtle Beach, S.C, where he accepted his call into the Christian ministry in 1959. Returning to Springfield, he entered the Southwest Missouri Annual Conference of the Methodist Church as a student pastor, and served churches at Mansfield-Hartville and Rogersville until his graduation from SMS in 1962.  He entered St. Paul's School of Theology, UM, and pastored at Sweet Springs until his graduation and ordination in 1966.   Assigned to St. Paul UM Church in Joplin, MO, he was asked to join the Army National Guard unit there, and was commissioned as a Chaplain (1LT) in 1967, serving with the 203d Armor Battalion (later changed to Engineer), until he requested active duty in order to minister to soldiers being sent to the Republic of South Viet Nam. He served then at Ft. Bliss, TX until assignment to the 1/501 Infantry Battalion of the 101st Airborne (Airmobile) division in RVN, 1970-71. His other assignments included Ft. Wood, MO,  Letterman Army Medical Center, San Francisco, CA., Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, two tours at Ft. Stewart, GA, Johnston Atoll, Ft. McPherson, GA, US Central Command at McDill, AFB, FL, and Darmstadt Germany. He served as 24th Division Chaplain, 3d US Army Chaplain, CENTCOM Command Chaplain, and 32d Army Air Defense Command Chaplain, retiring in 1991. Among his awards and decorations received were the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Joint Services Meritorious Service Medal, and three awards of the Army Meritorious Service Medal.

He served over 27 years in the military, and entered retirement in 1991, returned to Springfield. He accepted assignment to the Ozark UM Church, which he pastored until 1998. He remained active in ministry, as well as becoming deeply involved with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which he served as three time Commander of Chapter 621 in Springfield, three years as Department of Missouri Commander, and three years as National Chaplain of the Order.

He and his first wife, Janice Turner, raised four children together until her death from cancer in 1988. He met Mary Lynne Carnathan in 1989, and they married the same year, adding her two children to their extended family. She joined him during his last years in the military and together they enjoyed Europe until his retirement. She joined with him in ministry to the Ozark United Methodist Church and contributed much to the growth and vitality of the congregation. After retirement they were active in the growth of Cassidy UMC.

He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother Ollie Becker Gillespie Young, his brother Lawrence, a proud U.S. Marine killed at Tarawa in 1943, brothers Kenneth and Bill Young, granddaughter Ally Galland, grandson Travis Zorn, and great granddaughter Gracelynne Haring.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lynne of the home and six children; Charita Strickland, Springfield; Dwight (Sharon) Young, Indianapolis, IN; Robin Cartwright, Glenpool, OK; Keri (Jon) Mieckowski, Aylett, VA; Janet (Brad) Dutoit, Billings, MO; Richard Galland, Springfield, and brother Jerry (Judy) Young, Springfield, MO. 13 grandchildren - James Strickland, Kansas City; Allyson Strickland, Springfield; Courtney and Carson Young, Indianapolis, IN; Jazzman Peaden, Jenks, OK; Crockett (Kayla) and Lacey Cartwright, Glenpool, OK; Janice (Joel) Loftin, Manteo, NC; Abby (Jake) Wynant, Fulshear, TX; Tyler  (LaDawna) Haring, Niangua, MO; Arend Galland, Springfield; Caleb Dutoit, Virginia Beach, VA; Dakota Dutoit, Republic, MO. 12 great grandchildren - Grayson and Maddox Strickland; Cadence Kramer and Brynlee Peaden; Adeline Loftin; Marley, Lydia, and Henry Wynant; Kassidy, Karter, Kayzlee, and Karsynn Haring. He is also survived by a host of friends and comrades in arms of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Committal with full military honors will be Monday, January 8 at 9:00 am at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations in Colonel Young's name to the MOPH (Military Order of Purple Heart) Scholarship Fund (8795 E. Evergreen St., Strafford, MO 65757  c/o Bryce Lockwood).