Obituary for Howard Samuel Young
On Wednesday, September 26th, 2019, Howard Samuel Young passed away at the age of 88,
surrounded by loved ones.
Howard was born on July 9th, 1931 to R.M and Effie Adela Young in Denning, Arkansas. He grew
up during the Great Depression on a cotton, corn, soybean, and livestock farm on the Arkansas
River south of Ozark, and learned at an early age you had to work if you wanted to eat. That
strong work ethic lasted his entire life. Inspired by Carl Rose and Bob Ott, two County Extension
Agents who visited Howard’s family farm to advise on farming practices, Howard decided at age
thirteen to work toward becoming a county agent. After graduating from Altus High School,
with the encouragement of his mother, Howard attended Arkansas Tech for two years, then
transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where the earned his B.S. and M.S
degrees in General Agriculture. He later completed post-graduate work at Colorado State
University.
He worked tirelessly for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, serving as
Staff Chairman in Cleburne, Independence, and White counties. He was a gifted organizer and
motivator, and delighted in developing adult leaders in agricultural organizations as well as
young people through 4-H. He was especially proud that among the many young men he
trained, eleven became Staff Chairmen and five became State Specialists with the Cooperative
Extension Service. He called them “his boys” and many became lifelong friends. The counties in
which he served recognized his dedication and honored him in many ways.
Howard retired from the extension service in 1987. He then earned his license as a real estate
agent and land appraiser, and worked in that profession until the Arkansas Cattlemen’s
Association hired him as their Executive Vice-President in 1988. Under his leadership, that
organization’s 3,000 members grew to 16,000 members, making it the nation’s largest
Cattleman’s Association. He also spearheaded the purchase of a building for the organization’s
headquarters and learning center. He later served as the Executive Director of the Cattlemen’s
Foundation, where he worked until 1996.
Howard did not seek, nor covet, any honors for himself, but felt his calling was to help people
reach their potential, and was grateful for the opportunity to make his life useful. Nevertheless,
his work was recognized in many ways. He was named Progressive Farmers Man of the Year in
1993, and inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1996. Also, in 1996 the
Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association honored Howard and his colleague Frank Baker by
establishing a joint scholarship in their names. White County awards the Howard S. Young 4-H
Scholarship to an outstanding 4-H member each year. He received many other awards and
honors including The Distinguished Service Award from Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council
in 1991, The Distinguished Service Award from the National County Agents Association, and the
Superior Achievement Award from the Arkansas Extension Service. He was inducted into the
Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture in 1993, the University of Arkansas
Department of Animal Science named him Friend of the Department in 1998, and he received
the outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Arkansas Bumpers College of
Agriculture in 1999.
Howard was a devout Christian and family man. He was ordained a Deacon at the Batesville
West Baptist Church and served as Deacon at Valley Baptist Church, Searcy and at Hopewell
Baptist Church, Atkins.
He met his wife Inez Murdoch at Arkansas Tech University, and they married in 1952. They
celebrated sixty-seven years of life together, and were blessed with five children. He always
insisted his professional accomplishments were made possible by her encouragement and
companionship. She served as his partner in all ways, most notably by raising their family and
developing the Century farm and homestead held in Inez’ family since 1867. During the last
twenty-five years of his life Howard enjoyed working his cattle on the Murdoch Farm, serving
the Lord with a joyful heart, and showing his countless friends and family how to love without
reserve.
Howard and Inez’ son, Howard Scott, proceeded Howard in death at two years of age. Howard
was also proceeded in death by his parents, Milburn and Effie Young; sisters, Margie Hopkins,
Lois Estes, Polly Nichols; brother, Warren Young. He is survived by his wife, Inez; brother, Bill
Young; sister, Betty Carter; brother-in-law, Charles Murdoch; four daughters, Ann Edwards and
husband David, Susan Bradberry & husband Bobby, Melissa Clark & husband Gary, and Sammye
Quattlebaum and husband Storm. He is also survived by one grandson, eight granddaughters,
and four great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 28th at Lemley Funeral Services in Atkins
at 2:00 P.M. with visitation starting at 1:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to the Young Baker Scholarship, Arkansas
Cattlemen’s Foundation, PO Box 56043, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72214, to the Hopewell Baptist
Church, PO Box 253, Atkins, AR, 72823, or to the Oakland Cemetery, PO Box 440, Atkins, AR,
72823.
surrounded by loved ones.
Howard was born on July 9th, 1931 to R.M and Effie Adela Young in Denning, Arkansas. He grew
up during the Great Depression on a cotton, corn, soybean, and livestock farm on the Arkansas
River south of Ozark, and learned at an early age you had to work if you wanted to eat. That
strong work ethic lasted his entire life. Inspired by Carl Rose and Bob Ott, two County Extension
Agents who visited Howard’s family farm to advise on farming practices, Howard decided at age
thirteen to work toward becoming a county agent. After graduating from Altus High School,
with the encouragement of his mother, Howard attended Arkansas Tech for two years, then
transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where the earned his B.S. and M.S
degrees in General Agriculture. He later completed post-graduate work at Colorado State
University.
He worked tirelessly for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, serving as
Staff Chairman in Cleburne, Independence, and White counties. He was a gifted organizer and
motivator, and delighted in developing adult leaders in agricultural organizations as well as
young people through 4-H. He was especially proud that among the many young men he
trained, eleven became Staff Chairmen and five became State Specialists with the Cooperative
Extension Service. He called them “his boys” and many became lifelong friends. The counties in
which he served recognized his dedication and honored him in many ways.
Howard retired from the extension service in 1987. He then earned his license as a real estate
agent and land appraiser, and worked in that profession until the Arkansas Cattlemen’s
Association hired him as their Executive Vice-President in 1988. Under his leadership, that
organization’s 3,000 members grew to 16,000 members, making it the nation’s largest
Cattleman’s Association. He also spearheaded the purchase of a building for the organization’s
headquarters and learning center. He later served as the Executive Director of the Cattlemen’s
Foundation, where he worked until 1996.
Howard did not seek, nor covet, any honors for himself, but felt his calling was to help people
reach their potential, and was grateful for the opportunity to make his life useful. Nevertheless,
his work was recognized in many ways. He was named Progressive Farmers Man of the Year in
1993, and inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1996. Also, in 1996 the
Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association honored Howard and his colleague Frank Baker by
establishing a joint scholarship in their names. White County awards the Howard S. Young 4-H
Scholarship to an outstanding 4-H member each year. He received many other awards and
honors including The Distinguished Service Award from Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council
in 1991, The Distinguished Service Award from the National County Agents Association, and the
Superior Achievement Award from the Arkansas Extension Service. He was inducted into the
Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture in 1993, the University of Arkansas
Department of Animal Science named him Friend of the Department in 1998, and he received
the outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Arkansas Bumpers College of
Agriculture in 1999.
Howard was a devout Christian and family man. He was ordained a Deacon at the Batesville
West Baptist Church and served as Deacon at Valley Baptist Church, Searcy and at Hopewell
Baptist Church, Atkins.
He met his wife Inez Murdoch at Arkansas Tech University, and they married in 1952. They
celebrated sixty-seven years of life together, and were blessed with five children. He always
insisted his professional accomplishments were made possible by her encouragement and
companionship. She served as his partner in all ways, most notably by raising their family and
developing the Century farm and homestead held in Inez’ family since 1867. During the last
twenty-five years of his life Howard enjoyed working his cattle on the Murdoch Farm, serving
the Lord with a joyful heart, and showing his countless friends and family how to love without
reserve.
Howard and Inez’ son, Howard Scott, proceeded Howard in death at two years of age. Howard
was also proceeded in death by his parents, Milburn and Effie Young; sisters, Margie Hopkins,
Lois Estes, Polly Nichols; brother, Warren Young. He is survived by his wife, Inez; brother, Bill
Young; sister, Betty Carter; brother-in-law, Charles Murdoch; four daughters, Ann Edwards and
husband David, Susan Bradberry & husband Bobby, Melissa Clark & husband Gary, and Sammye
Quattlebaum and husband Storm. He is also survived by one grandson, eight granddaughters,
and four great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 28th at Lemley Funeral Services in Atkins
at 2:00 P.M. with visitation starting at 1:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to the Young Baker Scholarship, Arkansas
Cattlemen’s Foundation, PO Box 56043, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72214, to the Hopewell Baptist
Church, PO Box 253, Atkins, AR, 72823, or to the Oakland Cemetery, PO Box 440, Atkins, AR,
72823.