F. M. Young

Francis Michael (F.M) Young of Waco passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2016, surrounded by family. A Vigil Service followed by a Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 4 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 5, at St. Louis Catholic Church with the Msgr. Elmer Holtman and Msgr. Tom Frank as Celebrants, followed by a burial at Oakwood Cemetery. He was born January 13, 1930, in Tours, Texas, to John C. Young and Anna Huber Young. F.M was the youngest son of ten children. He grew up in Speegleville, Texas where he attended local schools and met his loving wife and life partner, Gloria Davis. They were married in 1955. In partnership with two of his brothers, R.T. and B.W., F.M. began doing construction work. The brothers grew from building stock tanks on farms to local roadwork and created the first asphalt plant in Waco in 1948. By 1950, they were officially qualified for highway construction. In 1964, F.M., and his brothers R.T. and B.W. separated their business interests and pursued areas of their greatest interest, B.W with Tymco, R.T. with Slurry Seal and F.M with the construction company. Serving as the Chairman of the Board and the President of the company, he was a hands-on leader who expanded the construction company, Young Construction, Inc. to be one of the Top 5 Highway Contractors in the state of Texas. F.M. served as the president of the Texas Highway Heavy Branch of the Association of General Contractors (AGC), on the National Board of the AGC, and was honored with lifetime board membership for both and represented Texas on the board of the National Asphalt Paving Association. F.M. also served on the board of the Texas Hot Mix Association and the Texas Good Roads Association and was a member of the Asphalt Paving Technologists Association. F.M. spent countless hours serving his local community and Central Texas in a multitude of ways. He served on the board of the Waco Boy’s Club and The Waco Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Baylor-Waco Foundation, and TSTI Development Foundation. In partnership with his brothers, F.M. donated the East Terrace house to the Historic Waco Foundation. F.M also designed and built the Brazos Queen II, and was co-owner of the Water Works restaurant. He developed Keys Creek, a housing development located in Waco, Texas. F.M. also designed, developed and built Pebble Creek Country Club, Golf Course and housing development in College Station, Texas. F.M. was a generous benefactor for the construction of the Waco Mammoth site. He was a strong supporter of catholic education and was recognized by the Diocese of Austin with an Education Service award as a generous benefactor for Reicher Catholic High School and St. Louis School in Waco, Texas. He also quietly supported many endeavors from the Robinson Little League to donating numerous church parking lots for many churches. He donated a wing to Providence Hospital and helped with other community projects and needs too numerous to list. Waco mayor Malcom Duncan and City Council, recognized F.M. for his community efforts on February 16, 2016 with a proclamation declaring it Gloria and F.M. Young Day. While he spent countless hours working in his construction business and serving his local community, he still found the time to nurture, play with and inspire his four children and eight grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and the world with his wife and dear friends. His family was his greatest passion, and the Young’s treasured their four in-law children as their own sons and daughters. He was preceded in death by his parents; his six brothers, John J. Young, Jodie Young, Clarence Young, Bernard Young (B.W. Young), Raymond Young (R.T. Young), Herbert Young (H.L Young) and one sister, Doralene (Dottie) Nokeley Riley. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Gloria; daughters, Melanie and husband, Michael Sheedy, Kim and husband, David Jung, of Waco, Texas, Susan and husband, Bern Abplanalp, of Austin, Texas; son, Davis and wife, Molly Young, of College Station, Texas; grandchildren, Christopher and his wife, Angela Sheedy, Alyssa Sheedy, Jennifer Jung, Rebecca Jung, Channing Young, Davis Michael Young, Jr., Sheridan Young and Brielle Young; and his sisters, Marian Coats and Cecelia Sulak (Sissy). Pallbearers are Kenneth Young, Gary Young, Eddie Joe Young, Darryl Young, Brian Howell, Martin Jackson, Patrick Sheehy and Sam Stidham. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Charles Shoultz, Jr., Tom Salome, Dr. Charles Gamble, John Bowden, John Cawthron, Bill Pakis, Rodney Talbert, Bryan Beauchamp, A.P. Boyd, Kirk Pate, Joe Nemmer and Larry Groth. The family wishes to express sincere thanks to the staff and medical providers of Providence Hospital for their compassionate and professional care. Additionally, they would like to recognize Sherry Harris, Kirk Pate, and Elvira Marten for their loving assistance to Mr. Young. The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Providence Foundation, Inc., P.O Box 2589 Waco, TX 76702 or to the Children’s Discovery Area of The Waco Mammoth Foundation, P.O. Box 326, Waco, TX 76703. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www. WHBfamily.com.