After 78 years of living big, LOVING life, and teaching everyone to believe in miracles, David Eugene Young left this earth to prepare a place in heaven for his wife of 57 years on April 3, 2023.
Dave’s wisdom and pure joy of life began on January 11, 1945 in Ogden, Utah, where he was the oldest of six siblings. He moved his life and family to Arizona in 1988. He was a world traveler, but planting a tree in his orchard was where he felt most at home.
Dave didn’t smoke, and he didn’t chew and definitely didn’t go with girls who do. Rae Beth Rand, was the girl who fit the bill. Knowing that she was the only person who could keep up with his wheeling and dealing, he closed the deal and married her in Preston, Idaho on March 11, 1966. The following year on March 10, 1967 they sealed the deal at the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple.
Everyone has a shit to worth ratio. While David had more cars, tools, guns, books, coins and yet -to-be-read magazines than anyone; he learned early on that you don’t own anything, it owns you. His true worth was created with the birth of his 5 children Tamara Elizabeth Larsen (Daniel), Laura Rae Young-Shehata (Ash), Joseph David Young (Megan), Ruth Anne Young (Curtis Phelps), Alice Marjorie Young (John Whitson).
On a scale of one to ten, he was a ten but kept getting better. Especially as his legacy grew to twenty grandchildren: Dallin, Miranda, Rachel, Clark, Sophia, Raea, Owen, Camdyn, Jeffrey, Emma, Ethan, Larissa, Daria, Herston, Max, Marjorie, Lex, Jess, Lilia, Annastasia and eight great grandchildren Lucas, Alexander, Theodore, Desmond, Senna, Noah, Cedar and Amanda. If you were part of this legacy you heard him cheer or whistle at your baptism, graduation, dance recital or sports game. At any given moment you could hear him bellow for his beloved RAAAAEEEE.
David served his country with honor on the USS Coral Sea, and served in the Naval Reserves as a commissioned Officer. He always looked out for the little guy. He lobbied for small businesses during his tenure at NFIB and was a patron of all local restaurants that said “Eat here”. He and Rae spent three decades growing Brown-O’Haver, a public adjuster firm that advocates for the insured. David made friends with his clients, having relationships with many even decades later. He took on any claim no matter how big or how small believing that what was right was right. He was a proud member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) with both Certified Professional Public Adjuster (CPPA) and Senior Professional Public Adjuster (SPPA) certifications. David was also a serial entrepreneur with many business ventures. His most recent being Now and Then Auto.
David was a fifth generation and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His most fulfilling calling was serving as the Employment Specialist where he used his vast network to find employment for those in need, and ultimately change the lives of hundreds of people.
David was the president and founding member of the Know-It-All Club. He was in the first graduating class of Clearfield High School in 1963. He then received his Bachelors in Finance and Banking from Weber State University. David learned how to spell vinyl, wrote four books and could score your bowling game. He then enhanced his growth and exploration with a lifetime pursuit of knowledge, including studies with PSI, Landmark, Tony Robbins, Dahn Yoga, and Great Courses. Making certain he had no regrets, he graduated with his Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership from Liberty University in May 2022, and was working towards his second master degree in Not for Profit Management which will be awarded posthumously.
David bought lunch. In heaven he’ll have to fight for the check with his father Raymond Glen Young, mother Marian Louise Brown, brother Stanley Dale and great granddaughters Aria Lauren and Charlotte Gwyneth who are all waiting to feast with him.
Dave never met a stranger he didn’t like. If you felt his love, he loved you. Keep the faith!
A celebration of his journey on earth will be held Good Friday, April 7, 2023 at 2220 North Harris Drive, Mesa AZ 85201. Viewing 10 am -12 pm and a church service 12 pm – 2 pm. This will be livestreamed https://zoom.us/j/94130220977 . A graveside service with full military rights will follow at a 230 pm at City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N Center St Mesa AZ, 85201.
Because a tree is nice, in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. https://btarboretum.org/
And just so he can have the last word one final time; Make America Great Again 2024!
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Although I won’t be there I still will be there with my heart.I know of know great man then David was.
Laura and Family — Many loving thoughts and prayers are with you as you say goodbye to your dear dad. He sounds like one of a kind who would love your obituary tribute. Tama
Condolences to the family of this special man who touched so many lives. He was truly one of a kind.
Such a good man
I’m so sorry, Laura. We’re sending our love and condolences.
Here’s to a life well lived and a beautiful family to carry on David’s legacy. May God’s everlasting light shine upon him and surround your family with peace and love.
Dear Rae and all. My deepest love and condolences. Dave was certainly one of a kind! I’ll always remember our “Spit” with our teeth competitions! Lol I’ll never forget the look on his face , when he said “can you do this ?( thinking he was the only one)🙄 without answering I did it! The spitting was on! Though we lost contact, I’ll never forget you my cousin. Please hug Aunt Joyce, Uncle Dick, and your cousin Richard for me ? Love you all ♥️
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounded like an amazing man and I can see he was well-loved by his family. Prayers of comfort for all of you.
Our heartfelt condolences to the whole family on your monumental loss. May the Lord make this easier for you all to mourn his absence.
I met and spent time with Mr. Young at a NAPIA meeting. We sat together at a dinner and immediately hit it off. We had a lot to talk about, we swapped claim stories and insurance philosophies up until it was time to go. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, Rest in Peace Mr. Young.
Laura – Jen and I send our love, prayers and condolences. I loved hearing all the stories of your Dad and the love you two shared. I hope the memories of this great man comfort you for your remaining years.
Laura.. Matt, Isla and I send our love, prayers and condolences for all of you and your family. You shared amazing stories about your Dad from the day we met, and I know he’s a close part of you and your memories of will always be cherished. 💗
What a great man! David was always very kind and easy to work with. We had the opportunity to travel to Iowa, ye Iowa. It was fun to spend time with him and Rae. He called me a few weeks ago and wanted me to build a house in Snowflake. I gave him an approx price and with out hesitation he said let’s make it happen. That was the last I talked to him. I’m going to miss his random calls just to talk. We all lost a great man and friend. Thanks Rae for sharing him with us. God bless the Young family.
Laura,
My family and I send our deepest sympathies. I am so sorry for your loss, and I hope you can smile at the memories of your father – he sounds like he was an amazing man. Sending you our prayers, Carol
Our condolences to the entire family from the Dulay and Berrios family. Our prayers and peace to all. Dearest sympathy to everyone and love.
Such a huge loss….David was special to each and every person he met. After meeting David you knew you had a friend for life. God Bless you all.
Dave and Rae Young we second parents to me in many ways. I spent countless hours in their home and in their various cars. Dave introduce me to drag racing when I got to tag along to watch him race. One night after a late race, he walked me to the door after mid-night. Sunday was the next day and he said we’ll see you tomorrow. I responded” yes, if I can resurrect by then”. His booming laugh woke up my parents. He laughed about that for weeks. Dave and Rae introduced me to the joys of a pizza parlor, Taco Time, playing arcade games and thinking big. I will never forget how proud David was to tell me he was now part of Mensa. I had no idea what Mensa was, but I was happy to celebrate with him just the same. The door to the Young home was never closed, it welcomed any and all who approached it. The experiences I enjoyed with the Young family are forever part of me. Dave, I graduated Cum Laude with my Bachelors degree this week. I know you would be proud! God Speed.
To Rae and family, my love and prayers are with you all as you adjust to the next step in your journeys. May you be surrounded by angels to comfort and lift you up.
I am 39 years old and I live in India. Dave was oldest of my friends. We met through work but when I met him in person he was very friendly and showed me around the town and wanted to learn about my culture. We became good friends in no time.
I learnt a lot from him. Be it American culture.. Be it correct Grammar.. and most importantly HOW BE A GOOD HUMAN BEING.
Phoenix won’t be the same for me. Ever!
Love you Dave!
-Vinny
Phoenix will never be the same for me. Ever!
I miss you Dave! I have learned a lot from you most of all I have learned how to be a good human being to everyone.
I am lucky to know you as a person and I was lucky to share few moments of my life with you!
Love you Dave!
-Vinny
Dear Rae & Family,
We were so shocked & saddened hearing of the Loss of David. We missed his funeral & honestly, that was one funeral we would have loved to attend! But we are looking forward to watching his funeral. He was truly an AMAZING, LOVING, FUN TO TALK WITH GUY! Your obituary is a wonderful tribute to Dave. We had no idea of so much written about him as we mostly visited or spoke when it required something to do with CARS! So much more makes sense now! We actually knew Dave for years as a customer ,but communicated more in his last years of his life. His illnesses never kept him down. He was a remarkable fighter in that respect & I loved reading a few of his books. We expressed to him our amazement of his talents, trials & challenges during his lifetime. We had planned to have lunch around the time of his passing & are so very sad we were unable to gather together for that. We will miss that intelligent, brave soul, fun guy to have conversation with & a person who truly LOVED his family. He always talked about each of you in some story. We will miss this guy. A brave soul, a fighter, a friend…
With great sadness for all of you, we will pray you obtain strength to carry on his legacy. We Pray you can find Peace In Your Hearts ~ Fondly, Vince & Debi Agostino
we met once- he was a really great at making friends and having a conversation about anything. I graduated from clearfield high school later than him but we talked about that and some of the teachers that we both knew, and some of the things only CHS students would know. It was fun, and I was looking for an obituary of someone who recently passed last name Young and saw this. I was instantly saddened but reading it put a smile on my face. whoever wrote it- —its a masterpiece. I spent an hour or 2 with him, and consider him a close enough friend to make these comments. And look at how many people commented! That is the mark of a truly great person. I’m sorry for your loss—I recently lost someone close and I know the pain, but thankfully we have memories, certainly you have many. Thank you for sharing this—-A great guy for sure.