Obituary
William Jacob Young – “Bill” passed over to be with the Lord August 22, 2021 due to
complications from Covid. Bill was born April 20,1947 in Turkey Creek, Kentucky to
Hiram and Suzy Mahala Young. The family moved to Florida and arrived in Ocala on
Bill’s 7th birthday. Bill was known to all as a tough hard worker. He said this came from
his youth, helping the family farm and fighting his 9 brothers and sisters to make sure to
get a morning biscuit.
Bill graduated from North Marion High School in 1966. After graduation he was in the
FBI before being recruited by the Army to serve in Vietnam. He would laugh as he told
the story of his Army recruitment processing. The Sergeant saw Bill’s FBI record and
pulled him from the line. He spent the rest of the day fingerprinting new recruits before
ever finishing his own processing.
After leaving the Army he had opportunities with both The State Patrol and the US
Secret Service. These were life goals for Bill, but he turned them down. He said after his
time at war he never again wanted to have to turn a gun on another human being. He
said he wanted only to help people and for them to be happy when they saw him.
Being in Florida, he figured, there is little that makes people happier than the guy that
makes your air-conditioning work. So, he learned the trade, opened his own HVAC
businesses and for over 45 years he worked hard, and also trained others the craft that
makes people happy to see them.
Life took Bill on many journeys, but his best journey was his marriage to Roberta Lee
Racey – “Birdie”, his life long love. They were married from 1969 until her passing in
2018. He cared for her in a way that amazed us all. Thank you Dad for your strength,
love and example of how to live.
Bill had a servants heart and not only helped people in his work but also through his
church. He served at the Lord’s Chapel in Ocala, Melody Christian Church in Live Oak
and most recently at Central Christian Church of Ocala. He truly loved the people and
the work he was able to do there. Bill was a man full of love and was blessed to find
love once again in Sandra McClanahan, both servants of the Lord and their church.
They were deeply in love and engaged at the time of his passing.
Bill is survived by his children, Steve Young and his wife Vicki, Karl Kriser, Tami Kriser
Martin and her husband Emil, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren, three brothers,
Ernie, Darrell and John and 3 sisters, Minnie, Hester and Maggie and his beloved dog
Mitzy.
We are at peace to know that Bill is with Birdie in Heaven watching over us all, that he is
reunited with family and that everyone is happy to see him.
I Corinthians 13:13 – And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest
of these is love.
Celebration of Life Services for William are scheduled for Friday, October 1, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Central Christian Church, 3010 NE 14th Street, Ocala, FL 34470. Following the service at the church, William will be laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513 on October 1, 2021 at 2:30 PM, with Military Honors scheduled at the cemetery.
Love Tami Lee & Family
xoxo
Tami Lee & family