Harold Eugene Young died peacefully in his sleep at Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville, Ark., on March 22, 2017, following a brief illness. He was 88 years old. Mr. Young was born in 1929 to John Reeder and Bertha May O’Dell Bandy Young. He grew up on the farm of his grandparents, George and Maggie Young, in the Midway community of Nashville, Ark. He attended Kirby Schoolhouse and graduated from Nashville High School in 1947, where he lettered in basketball. After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1951 with a degree in Civil Engineering, he married his beloved wife, Myra Jo Harwell, of Nashville in 1952. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea as a field engineer and was honored with several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star.
During their 65 year marriage, the Youngs lived, worked, and made dear friends in North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. For many years, Mr. Young worked at Portland Cement at Okay, Ark., and in North Carolina. Then he founded Unitemp Dry Kilns, a company he co-owned with his brother-in-law, Morris Harwell for some years. However, for the final years of his career, he worked as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) at and retired (1992) from Brown & Root (later known as KBR), a global Engineering, Energy Services, and Government Contracting company where he served mainly in the petrochemical maintenance division ultimately rising to Operations Regional Manager over petrochemical projects in 7 states. He ran his projects efficiently, with safety as the number one goal and the bottom line always in mind. A former employee recently said “Mr. Young always had something to say and if you were smart, you would listen and take his advice.”
Mr. Young is survived by his wife, Myra Jo; their children, Susan Manning (Richard) of The Woodlands, Texas; Patricia Stinson (Gene) of Nashville, Ark.; Jenny Anderson, PhD (Fred Dan) of New Boston, Texas; John Young (Lori) of Savannah, Ga.; and Amy Evrard, PhD (Chris) of Williamsport, Md.; 10 grandchildren, (Lea Bodie, Josh Stinson, Lillie Smith, Maggie Schneider, Hannah Topor, Austin Mote, Kathryn Manning, Sarah Chesshir, Mahala Young, Bowden Young); seven great-grandchildren (Madisen Bodie, Theodore Bodie, Olivia Bodie, Wyatt Chesshir, Knox Stinson, Bella Topor, Samuel Stinson (with three more due in April); a sister-in-law, Ann Parker, and brother-in-law, Bobby Harwell; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. And a dedicated corps of caregivers, including Fern Dixon, Linda Spillers Martin, Peggy Weatherford-Hopper, Robin Scott, Keisha Hill-Brown, and Kiffany Golston.
Mr. Young was raised in Midway Baptist Church and always considered that community an important part of his family as well. His own grandfather Middleton Bandy donated the land for the church building site. Mr. Young also placed a strong emphasis on education, especially since his parents worked hard to send him to college. Both Harold and Myra Jo were educated in the Nashville School District as well as their five children, all of whom have Bachelor’s degrees, three of whom have Master’s degrees, and two of whom have Doctorate degrees. His wife, Myra Jo, earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. Yes, Harold and Myra Jo Young believed in education and they lead by example. Visitation for Mr. Young took place at Latimer Funeral Home in Nashville on Saturday, March 25, from 5-7 p.m. The funeral was at Midway Baptist Church on Sunday, March 26, at 2 p.m., followed by the burial at the Nashville Cemetery with military honors, with Bro. Keith Mays officiating.
