Sophie J. Young, 95, of Waco, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Sunday morning, October 9, 2016 at Providence Hospice Place after a yearlong struggle with Leukemia.

Rosary will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco led by Father Cyril Ejaidu. A Visitation will follow, beginning at 6:30. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am, Thursday, October 13, at St. Louis Catholic Church with Father John Guzaldo, Father Cyril Ejaidu, and Father Rakshaganathan Selvaraj as Concelebrants assisted by Deacon Greg George. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in West.

Sophie was born March 15, 1921 in Hill County, Texas to the late Joe and Marie Marek. She was one of eight children that grew up on their family farm growing cotton and participating in all the hard work that came with it. Sophie loved her roots in the Cottonwood community outside of West and spoke about it often with her family. In the late 1940s, Sophie moved to Waco and went to work at Providence Hospital, where she first met the Daughters of Charity. On June 4, 1951, she married Bernard (B.W.) Young and soon thereafter started their family, raising three children - Kenneth, Gary, and Curtis.

B.W. and Sophie founded TYMCO, Inc., (The Young Manufacturing Company), a small family owned business which started in 1968 as a division of Young Brothers Construction Company – a company B.W. and his brothers R.T. and F.M. Young founded in the late 1940s.

After B.W.’s death on June 24, 1973, at the age of 52, Sophie assumed ownership of TYMCO. Sophie and her sons, Kenneth, Gary, and Curtis, committed themselves to continue the dream started by B.W. She served as president of TYMCO until her retirement in 1990. She was very proud of the TYMCO family and loved everyone who worked there.

Sophie was very involved in supporting the mission of Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Waco by volunteering thousands of hours with Providence Hospital. Because of her many years of dedicated service and support, she was named an “Affiliate” of Daughters of Charity. Sophie was presented this honor by Sister Marie Therese Sedgwick, Visitatrix of the Western Central Province of Daughters of Charity on November 20, 2000.

Sophie had a strong love and belief in Catholic education. Her support of St. Louis and St. Mary’s Catholic Schools in Waco, Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, St. Mary’s Catholic School in West, as well as other Diocese of Austin schools was a passion of hers for many years.

Other memberships and volunteer activities Sophie was involved with included KJZT, St. Louis Church Women's Society, St. Louis Elementary School Mothers Club, Reicher High School Booster Club, and the Reicher Angels Program. She also served on the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) board for many years.

Sophie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She traveled throughout the country and visited different parts of the world with them. In recent times, she enjoyed going to lunch with her closest friends until her illness made it too difficult. She loved all of you and cherished every moment.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bernard W. Young; son, Curtis J. Young; father, Joseph R. Marek; mother, Marie M. Marek; brothers, Joseph R. Marek and Edward J. Marek; and sisters, Christine Svrcek and Mary Pavlovsky.

Sophie is survived by her sons, Kenneth J. Young and wife, Carol; and Gary B. Young and wife, Bebe. She also leaves five grandchildren, Bryan J. Young and wife, Katie, Clayton M. Young and wife, Caitlin, Jason W. Young and wife, Ashley, Monica L. Young and Jonathan B. Young. She also leaves four great-grandsons, Owen, Brady, Benjamin and Baby Boy Young on the way.

She is also survived by her sister, Lois Kallus; her brothers, John T. Marek and Cy Marek; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Kenneth Young, Gary Young, Bryan Young, Clayton Young, Jason Young, Monica Young and Jonathan Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

The family wants to express a special thank you to her caregivers, Angie Garcia, Dora Bernal, Sherry Harris and Jacqueline Norman. Also, a special thanks to Dr. Gary Barbin, St. Elizabeth’s at Providence Park, Baylor Scott & White Cancer Center, Right-at-Home, Bluebonnet Health Services and Providence Hospice Place.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Reicher Catholic High School, 2102 North 23rd Street, Waco, TX 76708; St. Louis Catholic School, 2208 N. 23rd Street, Waco, TX 76708; St. Mary’s Catholic School, P.O. Box 276 West, TX 76691; and The Providence Foundation, P.O. Box 2589 Waco, TX 76712.
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