Roger Lee Young

Award winning Entertainer Extraordinaire, Roger Young, born September, 9, 1946, passed away on April 6, 2010, after a fourteen month battle with esophageal cancer. He fought like a warrior and inspired health care professionals, cancer patients, family and friends with his courage and positive attitude. His million dollar smile, kindness, character, and life values taught us all how to live and how to die. He faced the perils of cancer without fear. He said he wasn't scared and that if worse came to worse and he went to meet Jesus all he could say is man what a ride! His parents were native Oklahomans and preceded him in death. Oscar Lee Young, father, and Stella Juanita Richey, mother, grew up in the Calvin Oklahoma area. Roger and his wife, Sissie, relocated back in Davis, Oklahoma five years ago from Gold Canyon, Arizona. He was glad to be back in Oklahoma near family. Riding with Cousin Colin the cowboy on cattle ranches in Connerville brought him great joy. He drew nearer to God riding a good horse, spending peaceful time enjoying God's creation, gathering cattle on horseback, and loved fishing for a lunker in a ranch bass pond. He was born in Yuma, Arizona and grew up in both Oklahoma and Texas. He attended school in Atwood, Oklahoma and Midland-Odessa, Texas. He attended college in Phoenix, Arizona He is a renowned maverick entertainer and educator who left his mark on the national, Texas, and southwestern music business. His musical career in the performing arts began with his mother teaching him a few guitar chords. At seventeen he was already established in regional music business circles. His sole, full-time occupation and passion was music. He was a veteran of television, movies, radios, speaking, showcase and concert performances. He recorded albums, cassettes, and CD's with chart records and pick-hits in Billboard Magazine. Young's artistic journey spanned four decades and earned him a slew of lifetime achievement awards and recognition. In 2000 he was awarded the Governor's Tourism Preservation Award for his efforts to preserve and showcase Arizona's western and cultural history. He entertained and educated visitors from around the globe at the campfire. Horseback vacations in Monument Valley, the Superstition Mountains, Tombstone and other pristine wilderness areas were featured in Western Horseman, Food and Wine, Southwestern and travel related magazines. "The bill of fare on the entertainment menu was a tasty mix of music and history. The music was all provided by Roger Young, who rides a guitar hard and sings with real cowboy enthusiasm," Gary Vorhes described him in his article Hit the Trail to Tombstone. Roger's band, The Pastels, The Reason Why, The Yellow Rose, were opening acts or back up bands for legendary entertainers including Duke Ellington, Freddie Hart, Conway Twitty, Sammi Smith, Tommy Cash, Peggy Sue, Buck Owens, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Rodriquez, Willie Waylon, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvin Bishop, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Hank Williams Jr., Joe Ely, Ray Wylie Hubbard, BW Stevenson, Darrell McCall, Gary Stewart, Eddie Raven, Freddie Fender, Michael Martin Murphy, Mel Tillis, Rex Allen Jr. and others. Just like in the movies, the good guy won. He got the girl and life was good. He had an earthy approach to living. He created Garden of Cowboy, The masters' Garden, just south of Davis. His music and marriage was a ministry touching lives. Roger is survived by his wife, Sissie Young, family including daughters, sisters, brothers, in-laws, step-mother, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, his beloved music family and beloved friends.