Dorothea Yvonne Young

Our amazing, fun, crazy and loving wife, mom, sister, and aunt, Dorothea Yvonne Snyder Young slipped from this world into eternity to be with her Savior on Christmas Eve morning.Mom was born at the family home in Oakland, Oregon, on February 25, 1928, to John David and Rosalind (Pichette) Snyder. She attended school in Oakland from first grade through 12th when all 12 grades were held in the Washington School on Main Street. When she was in 3rd grade her parents purchased the two-story white house directly across from Locust Street from the school and their home quickly became the gathering place for mom and her older sister Joyce’s friends. Tragedy struck the family when Mom was just 10 years old, her beloved father died very unexpectedly, leaving her mother to raise four young children on a small widow's pension. It was then that Momand her sister, Joyce began working during the summers picking strawberries, green beans, hops and prunes to pay for their school clothes and supplies.During the school year mom babysat, did housework, and helped with several of the elderly in the Oakland community. She and her sister even worked a couple of days loading boxcars at Martin Box in Oakland before the company found out how young they were, too young to be working there! When she was in High School, Mom got a job at the Best Cafe in Oakland, now the Lamplighter, as a dishwasher and cook. She worked there until after she married.Mom always knew what she wanted and she wanted Sam Young! They were married September 13, 1947, and it was a 71-year long honeymoon! They held hands to the end. Three children were bornto them, Diane, David and Pamela. Dad was in college when they married and because of all the married men going to college on the GI bill, there was no place they could rent in Corvallis, so Mom lived at home with Diane until Dad was a senior, when they finally found a place at Adair Village. The government took some old hospital buildings and put up some cardboard walls in them and rented them to the married GI's. Mom always swore the walls were cardboard because she said you knew when the neighbors had a fight, what they fought about and when they made up!After graduation, Dad got a job with Bonneville in Portland for a few years but then took a job with Douglas Aircraft in Southern California, and the family moved there. Feeling a bit insecure being a small-town girl in the big city, Mom took poise and modeling classes, giving her more self-confidence.Mom was a stay at home mom but she volunteered at our kids’ schools’ and taught Sunday School and was active in the women's group at the YMCA. An accomplished seamstress, she made most of her clothing and many of her children’s clothes. She took decorating classes too and became an exceptional cake decorator. She was the go-to person for wedding cakes for all of their friends and her family. Mom also did beautiful counted cross stitch pictures and crocheted and knit hundreds of gifts for her family and friends. Always close to her family, Dad took an early retirement and they moved to Oakland to help take care of her mom, Rose Young as she aged. She was very close to her Aunts, Eva Renquist, Edna Cole and Peggy Snyder as well and as they aged, she canned for them, brought them small decorated Christmas trees, sent them meals and took them to doctor appointments with Dad driving. With all of her accomplishments, Mom never learned to drive.Some people think life begins at forty, for mom it was when she became a grandma! She loved being a grandma! Even though her first three grandchildren were grandsons Dave, Kyle and Matthew Brown, she so longed for a granddaughter, and finally granddaughter Kate was born. Then to adding icing onto the cake, her son Dave had two daughters, Tirzah and Hannah. Mom's life was complete! Mom loved a party, especially a family party and when they moved back to Oregon, she took over having the family Christmas party as well as doing show for her niece's weddings and babies. She and Dad even hosted one nieces wedding reception in their beautiful back yard. An outstanding cook, everyone always looked forward to her parties and her great cooking.Sadly, in her 70s, dementia struck and stole away many of mom's memories and abilities. She was no longer able to cook those wonderful meals or make beautiful cakes but we could still have fun.She could still tease and be a pill at times as usual! She will be greatly missed by her children and their spouses, Diane and Dick Brown, of Oakland, Dave and Tricia Young, of Alaska, and Pam and Don Holthofer of Philomath; and her grandchildren, Sheri Silvers of Louisiana, Dave Brown and wife Jess, of Alaska, Kyle, Matthew and Kate Brown of Oakland, and Tirzah and Hannah Young of Alaska, will all miss her as will all her many nieces and nephews. Her remaining sibling, Bob Young and his wife AIthea of Oakland, will also miss her fun times and loving presence.Mom was greeted in Heaven by her beloved parents; sisters, Joyce and Patsy; and brother, Jack.The family would like to thank all of the wonderful staff at Curry Manor for making mom's last year, comfortable and happy.A celebration of her life will be held at the Oakland church of Christ on January 12th, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.
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