Dennis Joe Young passed away Wednesday, November 2^nd, 2016 at Kadlec hospital in Richland, Washington following a short illness. Dennis is survived by his wife of 61 years, Phoebe Hope (Ford) Young, his sister Billie Lou Young his sons; David, Marvin and Thomas, three grandchildren; Dylan, Brian and Laura and one great grandson, Kane.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Avo (Brown) Young.

Dennis was born on January 7th, 1933 in Everton, Arkansas, where he spent his childhood and early youth. Dennis spent his early childhood exploring every nook and cranny of his parents’ farm in Arkansas; milking cow before school and finishing chores after school formed his strong work ethic.

He moved with his family from Arkansas to Cowiche in the Yakima valley in 1944 and again in 1948, attending school and working to help his family make a start in their new home.  He graduated from high school in 1952 and served a tour of duty in Korea in 1953. 

After military service, Dennis took the advice of his cousin and mentor Dick Young, and parlayed his G.I. Bill benefits into a trade by enrolling in the Machine Tech program at Yakima’s J.M. Perry trade school.  This decision served him well in the future, something he never tired of telling his sons and grandchildren.  Dick’s wife Beth also took a hand in shaping Dennis’ future by introducing him to her new Registered Nursing workmate, Phoebe Ford.   After a whirlwind courtship, Dennis and Phoebe got married “twice”.  They got their marriage license in Coeur d’Alene on April, 24, but were unable to find someone to officiate.  They got another license and were married in Yakima on April, 30^th 1955 at Dick and Beth’s home, sanctified by Rev. Beadles.

With his course set, Dennis embarked on his life journey in earnest, starting a family and building his skills as a journeyman machinist.  This journey required many stops as he took his family from job to job between Ellensburg, San Jose, California, Yakima and Seattle.  From 1956 through 1963 Dennis hauled his new family from shop to shop in a new 21-foot Shasta travel trailer towed by a $300 Blue Cadillac Fleetwood.

Dennis eventually landed in Richland, Washington in the summer of 1963 with a job at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. He settled in as a tool and die maker for a succession of Area contractors.  Starting in their Shasta trailer on Cosmic Lane at the Atomic Trailer Park, Dennis, Phoebe and the boys quickly progressed from there through a duplex rental to a McNary modular home on Wilson St. Dennis was active in his union local, International Association of Machinists Local 751 and the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council (HAMTC), serving as shop steward in the 80’s.  He retired in 1989 but kept constantly on the move.  Besides maintaining and expanding their Forest St home, Dennis took on contract work for Energy Northwest during maintenance outages, taking on 12 hour shifts.  He also set up “AAA Shops”, a home “turnin and burnin’” business that utilized a large Logan industrial lathe and, his pride and joy, a Bridgeport milling machine.  All of this was set up in a 47-foot semi trailer parked in the back yard of their Forest St home.  In addition to all that work Dennis managed rental properties, constantly driving his tool-filled 70’s vintage Ford Econoline van up and down the road between his properties and projects in Richland and Yakima.

The Richland Oddfellows (I.O.O.F) Lodge 338, Richland Masonic Blue Lodge #283 and Masada Shrine, VFW Cook-Ericson Post 7952 all benefitted from Dennis’s attentions.  Dennis took great pride in rising through the ranks to serve as IOOF Noble Grand.  He also was a member of Masada Shrine Temple of Yakima.  In this capacity, as Phoebe tells it, he participated in an endless string of parades and Ryegrass rest area coffee stand stints.

Dennis loved to dance. Beginning in the early 70’s Dennis and Phoebe joined their neighbors Frank and Pat Trent in square, ballroom and swing dance.  Dennis was very popular on the dance floor, passing out acorn, advice and waltz leads freely.  He also loved “horse trades”, for tools, tires, cars or whatever.  He became a fixture at the Columbia Basin Racquet Club in Richland always ready with stories and advice.

Never far from his “Arkansas toothpick” or Giant Nickle, was Dennis a friend to many He will be remembered for his lucky acorns, his vibrant personality, his well (and frequently) told stories and his ready helping hand.

Sunday, November 6^th, there will be an open casket viewing from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM. at Events at Sunset. Dennis’ family will hold a graveside service at 2:30 PM at Sunset Gardens with a reception to follow at Events at Sunset. There will be an open casket viewing from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM. 

Please send donations in lieu of flowers to Shriners’ Hospital for Children in Spokane at 911 W 5^th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204.  The phone number there is 509-455-7844.