Gary Joe Young Obituary (1940

Gary Joe Young, 84 of Shelbyville gained his Heavenly Crowns, Thursday, October 31, 2024. Gary was born March 8, 1940 in Mattoon, Illinois, the only child of Joe and Imogene (Kearney) Young. He married his High School Sweetheart, Judy Furry, on June 25, 1961 in Shelbyville. Gary graduated from Shelbyville High School, Class of 1958 and then from SIU-C, with a Civil Engineering Degree. He worked for a short time with the Shelby County Highway Department until God showed him his true calling, serving others through meeting their insurance needs. Gary then went to work for Prudential. Throughout his career with Prudential, Gary formed his own Independent Insurance Agency, G.J. Young & Associates. He was blessed with the opportunity of serving others and meeting their Insurance and Financial needs for over 50 years. Gary loved his Shelbyville community and always felt it necessary to give back to it and lift it up. With those thoughts, he became very active in the community. He had served in various roles with the Rotary Club, Red Cross, Little League and later as a volunteer with Lincoln Land Hospice, just to name a few. He and his father, Joe were very instrumental in starting the Shelbyville Dialysis Center. Gary’s greatest love and commitment was serving his Lord, Jesus Christ and sharing His love with everyone that he encountered. He held numerous positions in his church, from Sunday School teacher and Superintendent to Chairman of the Board of Deacons. Where there was a need, Gary was the first to fill it. Later in life, he had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors with Love The Child Orphanage in Guatemala. Gary’s love for his family was impeccable. Even while working numerous hours serving his community’s insurance needs, Gary always made family a priority. He coached every one of his kid’s ballgames and later, helped coach his grandkids. He never missed the opportunity to play a round of golf, hunt or fish with any of them and their friends. He mentored numerous kids as they were growing up and loved each and every one of them as if they were his own. Left to carry on his legacy are his wife of 63 years, Judy, of Shelbyville; daughter, Diana Litteral of Shelbyville; son, Patrick Young of Virden; daughter-in-law, Debbie Young of Centralia; grandsons, Michael (Rachel) Litteral, Brian (Kati) Litteral, Nick (Whitney Thompson) Young and Joel (Alyssa Dothager) Young; granddaughter, Danielle (Casey Cushman) Young; great grandkids Logan Litteral, Cali Jo, Rylee and Barrett Litteral, Bentyn Congenie, Grayson Martz, Alayna and Aubrey Young and numerous cousins. Greeting Gary in Heaven were his parents and his oldest Son, Michael J. Young. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 9, 2024 at the First Baptist Church, 1000 WN 6th Street, Shelbyville, IL with Pastor Tim Yankee and Pastor Greg Breeden officiating. Private family burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM, Friday, November 8, 2024, also at the church. Gary’s family asks, that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his honor. These may be made to the Hawthorne Inn Activity Fund, 1111 WN 12th Street, Shelbyville, IL 62565 or the Shelbyville Boys Baseball, 210 N. Morgan, Shelbyville, IL 62565 and will also be received at the church. Gary and his family would like to sincerely thank those that helped make his last years on earth some of the greatest. The staff at The Villas Holly Brook and especially Lisa Watton, Administrator and the staff at Hawthorne Inn for their great attention to detail with Dad’s care and also, Traditions Hospice. “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” ~Zig Ziglar