Raymond Joseph Young
COOKS — Raymond Joseph Young, 75, of Cooks, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at UP Health Systems-Marquette. He was born on September 2, 1945, in Preston, England, the son of William Norman and Mary Sylvia (Holden) Young. The family moved to Rochester, Michigan, where he attended school and graduated from Rochester High School. He furthered his education, receiving his bachelor’s degree in education from Ferris State University. He taught at Bloomfield Hills Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and the Junior High School of Escanaba Area Schools. He later worked as a sheet metal worker and belonged to Sheet Metal Workers Local 7 Union. During his retirement years, he worked as an adjunct professor for Bay College, teaching at the Manistique site.
On January 2, 1993, Ray married the former Katherine Guertin, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Gladstone. He and Katherine were the proud owners of the Garden Sports Shop at Garden Corners for five years, and currently owners of L.C.’s Sunset View Resort. Ray was very active in the community. He served as the Garden Township supervisor. He was currently serving on the Alger Delta Electric Co-op Board of Directors. He was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Gladstone. He was the chair of its Missions Committee and held firm to his Christian beliefs of helping the poor and feeding the hungry. He was instrumental in starting Hope at the Inn, Delta County’s faith-based rotating emergency homeless shelter. He was also involved with the Salvation Army’s Saturday Lunch program and the Campus Meal program. He served as an EMT with Tri-Star EMS and served as camp health officer for Camp Michigamme.
Ray was an avid fisherman and took great pride in his knowledge of Big Bay De Noc, taking people fishing, and organizing and putting on his famous fish fries at the Resort’s beach/campfire site. He had deer hunted in the past but was content to let his wife, Kathy, provide the venison. Ray brought home the fish and Kathy brought home the venison.
He was preceded in death by his firstborn son, Stephen William Young (deceased 1993); wife, Elsie L. Young (deceased 1992); and by his parents, William and Mary Sylvia Young.
Ray is survived by his wife, Katherine of Garden; son, Raymond Mordecai (Ashley) Young of Escanaba; daughters, Nicole Marie (Craig) Potvin of Garden and Mara Kirston (Isaac) De Los Reyes of Goodyear, Ariz.; stepson, Marty Palmer of Detroit, Mich., and stepdaughter, Sharon (Rick) Davis of Nahma; brother, William Young of Nahma; sisters, Jane (Tom) Di Lorenzo of Waterford, Mich., Kathy (Steve) Fredericks of Lake Orion, Mich., and Andrea (Karl) Jackson of Escanaba; grandchildren Sydney Young, Tyler, Isaac, and Ilana Cooper, Tara (Cooper) Drost, Angel, Roman, Xzavier, and Sebrina De Los Reyes, Katey Campana, Allison and Ella Young; and step-grandson Ricky Davis, as well as five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place at the Memorial United Methodist Church, 1920 Lake Shore Dr, Gladstone, on Saturday, October 10, from noon until 2 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Cathy Rafferty officiating. Burial will take place at the New Garden Cemetery in Garden following the service (time approximately 4 p.m.). Memorials in Ray’s name may be directed to the family for future designation. Fausett Family Funeral Homes of Manistique and Garden is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be left on their website.