Bobby G Young

Bobby Gerald Young, 82, of Commerce, passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.  He was born on January 27, 1936 in Fairlie, Texas, the son of Sidney Scruggs Young and Edith Ree Dearing Young.  Visitation will be on Friday, May 4, from 5:00-7:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Commerce.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church with Kris Myers, David Alexander and Dr. John LaNoue officiating.  Interment will follow at Rosemound Cemetery.

Growing up in the Commerce area, Bobby attended Commerce schools and East Texas State University.  He married the love of his life, Neva Lynn Teague, on August 4, 1957 in Durant, Oklahoma.  Bobby worked for McKenzie Asphalt for several years.  He then entered law enforcement, as an officer and then became Chief of Commerce Police Department.  He was elected the Sheriff for Hunt County 1976-1996; and became the longest serving Sherriff of Hunt County. 

During his long career in law enforcement, Bobby accumulated a great deal of training and experience that enabled him to serve Hunt County with distinction for 20 years.  Among those are being a member of the National Sheriff’s Association, Texas Sheriff’s Association, Texas Narcotics Officers Association, as well as a  member of the Crime Prevention Association. He received the first ever Bert Ford Award from Governor George W. Bush and TABC. Congressman Ralph Hall declared Bobby Young Day in Washington, D.C in 1996 they raised the flag and awarded him an American flag.  He obtained a certificate from the Department of Public Safety for Anti-Terrorism, Jail Administration from Sam Houston University, Criminal Investigation from the University of Texas at Arlington and Crime Prevention from Southwest State University.  He also received a certificate from the Academy for Sheriffs and Deputies.  He was a past member of the Governor’s Board of Criminal Justice and the Board of CETA, and was a member of the Board of Jail Standards.  He was a graduate of the Department of Corrections Academy and earned a Certificate of Achievement from the Regional Police Academy.  A distinction that Bobby particularly enjoyed was playing the character of Sheriff Sunshine for Clean Greenville that awarded the City with $10,000.00 for the beautification of Greenville.

He was a Master Mason in Commerce for over 50 years, also 32nd degree Hella Shrine of Dallas.  Bobby was also an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Convention.  One of the greatest honors he had was being able to lead both of his children, Darlene and Don to Christ and baptize them both at an early age. 

Bobby is survived by his loving wife of over 60 years, Neva; his children Darlene Allin and husband, Bill and Don Young and wife, Celeste; his grandchildren Susan Allin of Macon, GA, Dr. Julie Chia and husband, Andrew of Loma Linda, CA, Bart Allin and wife, Paula of Rockwall, TX, Dr. Brandy Porterpan of Heath, TX, Paige Ashley and husband, Shane of Commerce, TX, Rebecca Prather of Sulphur Springs, TX, Payton Flanagan and husband, J.C. of Commerce, TX, Paisley Young of Austin, TX; great grandchildren Chris Allin and Stephanie Allin of Rockwall, TX,  Ashton Flanagan, Easton Ashley and Kyler Ashley, all of Commerce, TX; Brother and sister in law Larry and Linda Harper of Commerce ,TX; nieces Kim Lackey of Commerce, Leslie Stonestreet of Royce City and Lauren Taylor of Caddo Mills and a nephew, Grant Harper of Campbell. 

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Edith Young, Daughter in law Monica Monday Young, step mother, Dorothy Cox, and brother Roy Gene Harper.

Serving as pallbearers are Shane Ashley, J. C. Flanagan, Andy Wright, Don Ed Wright, Haskell Stricklen, Baron Matlock, Ricky Burchfield, and Reno Blakely.

Serving as honorary bearers are Adult Sunday School Departments 7 & 8, all former employees of the Hunt County Sheriff’s Department from 1976-1996, Bill Mills, Bob Monday, Ray Deaton, David Huffman, Joe Robinson, William Pemberton, Mike Crowell, Buddy Ferrell, Gene Rainey, James Hawkins,Chief Donna Spinato, Honorable Ted Lyon, and Congressman Ralph Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bobby’s memory to the First Baptist Church Commerce children’s playground fund, 1401 Washington, St., Commerce, TX  75428.

Special thanks to Hospice Plus, Sandra Medrano, and Special granddaughter Payton Flanagan  for loving and taking care of Bobby.

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