Jean M. Young

Jean, you were such a good friend to my mom Norma..so in turn you were a good friend of mine .we had so much fun working at grandpa’s store together years ago.when Laura and I took you to the haunted house you screamed the whole time lol..many of great years working the elections with you..rest in peace my friend ..

Jean Young is my Mother. I am her eldest son. She raised me for many years as a single Mom in Collinsville and then remarried to the man (Roger Young) who would become my stepfather. Mom and I have had countless good times together when living in Collinsville and later when spending family time in Highland. During her second marriage she gave birth to two wonderful children (Roger and Jennay–my half-brother and half-sister) –both of whom have become full-grown adults with families and careers of their own. Mom is and always will be my best friend—someone I could speak to as a son would to his Mother on private/personal matters of job, growing up, relationships, career, religion and the like. In particular, she had a marvelous sense of humor about life’s issues and was able to put serious issues into their proper perspective when I felt solutions were difficult to come by.

She also had a marvelous singing voice, and I remember her humming show tunes around the house while putting on her make up in the morning or cooking a family meal. After I went away to school and later found employment in Chicago and then in New York City where I now live, I would frequently phone my Mom to share insights and exchange good tidings and consistently visit her and the family in Highland for week-long visits during the summer and on holidays.

I am ever so grateful that my end-of-the-year visit to Highland in 2021 occurred when it did. While in Highland this past December I was able to visit with Mom every day of my week-long visit, driving her in my rental car to the homes of family friends, going to restaurants and holiday parties in and around Highland and chatting with her at the nursing home every day about whatever came to mind. I was with Mom almost the entire day of December 29–the day before I flew back to NYC. We had a great conversation about events in the news and politics. Little did I know that my conversation with Mom on December 29 at the nursing home would turn out to be just twenty four hours before her passing.

Now that family and friends are coming together on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 I believe it would be appropriate to celebrate the life of Jean Young as much as we are tempted to express condolences at her passing. My Mom’s sense of humor, her storytelling, her ability to capture the attention of people when sharing stories of her work with the NBC affiliate in St. Louis (KSDK TV, formerly KSD TV), her many years work as a civic-minded elections official during local and state elections in Highland as well as her kind-heartedness toward others are qualities about my Mom that will endure forever. I feel fortunate to have such a Mother and know these qualities of hers are what Mom would want her children to express. We should then rejoice that we are all subject to the divine powers that be. Thank you Mom for everything!!

So sorry to hear, Jean was a sweet and great lady who will be missed