Obituary of Lorna Alice Young

Lorna A. (Fleming) Young passed away January 27, 2023, at age 95. Born of Scots Irish and Norwegian ancestors in Provost, Alberta, Canada in 1927, she was one of twin sisters and two older brothers. After her mother died, Lorna and Jean were raised in town by their Aunt Maud and on the farm by their father and Great Aunt Phoebe. They spent many summers not only at the family lake cabin, but also at their Ravnsborg and Vold cousins’ ranches near Ponoka, riding and tending cattle. Lorna played girls team hockey in high school and worked at the drugstore in town. After graduation, she went on to study at three different Canadian cities, earning her Master of Social Work from the University of British Columbia. She met and married Daniel M. Young, a Californian also studying at UBC. They had four children, each born in a different area of the continent as Dan continued his studies and pursued his career, finally settling in the Puget Sound area.

Lorna loved the mild sea climate and magnificent natural features of this region, and she loved her own and Dan’s extended families. She visited Alberta and California often, never missing an important family event. Before her youngest was born, Lorna was a social worker for the King County juvenile court. After Dan’s sudden death, she went on to raise their children on the old farm they had bought in Big Valley. Lorna became a school counselor for North Kitsap High School in 1969. She dedicated herself to serving and encouraging NK’s students until her retirement. She was committed to the success of all students, especially Native American students and others who benefitted from her supportive spirit and understanding mind. She became a great friend of local carver Jake Jones, and quietly served on the Fishline program with Fr. Joe Carney during those years.

Lorna was always a wildlife and art enthusiast. She loved getting out into nature and joined a local hiking club as well as enjoying photography and oil painting in her retirement years. With the club she hiked the Olympics, Hell’s Canyon, the Columbia Gorge and the Northwest coast. Lorna was a theater enthusiast as well, having annual tickets for the Seattle opera and ballet for many years. She was also a

world traveler. She visited family friends and with travelling friends in England, France, Germany, Scotland, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan, China, Midway, Hawaii, Australia, Mexico, Northwest Territories, Alaska, the Amazon Rainforest and Peru - hiking to Machu Pichu at age 70. But her favorite summering place was the cluster of family cabins at ‘the Lake’ in Alberta.

A wonderful Mother, Nanna, Aunt and friend, adventurous, courageous and fun to be with, she will be fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews, her many friends, and her children, Sidonie, Erica (Timothy), Colin, and Bruce, and by her grandchildren Anna, Caleb, Daniel and Griffin, and great-grandchildren Katerina, Samantha, and Samuel. Lorna was predeceased by her husband, parents, siblings, and grandson Benjamin. Family and friends are invited to share in a celebration of Lorna’s life on April 14, 2023, at 3:00 pm at the House of Awakened Culture, Suquamish, Washington. In lieu of flowers, please bring a story to share. Donations in honor of Lorna Young may be made to Washington Trails Association or Pacific Northwest Trail Association.