Doris McNabb Youngquist

Doris McNabb Youngquist: November 19, 1926 to September 14, 2025.

Doris was born in a farmhouse in Grabill, Indiana but the family moved to Dearborn, MI when she was very young, as her father pursued a career at Ford Motor. In Dearborn, Michigan, her mother taught her piano lessons; she learned to play the flute and also learned dancing at the Henry Ford School of dancing, where she was taught by Benjamin Lovett. She was not able to start flute lessons until eighth grade as the financial collapse of the Great Depression greatly affected her family, and she played the flute as it was too difficult to get clarinet reeds during World War II. One year she was one of two music students in the entire county chosen to attend a Detroit Symphony concert conducted by Walter Damrosch. She enjoyed being a guide at the Henry Ford museum. An avid sports fan, she enjoyed playing baseball, even though this was an unorganized sport for women in the 1930s.

Doris earned a Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Michigan in 1953 and was elected into the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, Alpha chapter. Since 1966 she was a resident of Williamstown MA where she was an Elementary school Music teacher and band director. Doris also taught woodwinds, brass, and piano privately in her house. Doris also worked for many years at the Williams College pool as a supervisor of lifeguards.

For over fifty years, Doris was active member in the Williamstown First Congregational Church, an usher at Tanglewood, and an usher at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Doris was a poll worker in many Williamstown elections. She knew everyone in Williamstown, so no one had to tell her their name.

For decades, she played flute in the Pittsfield MA Eagles Band and was active in the Williamstown Garden Club

She was a member of the North Adams TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) group for decades. She loved this group which helped her lose forty pounds and keep her goal weight for the rest of her life.

The final three years of her life Doris lived with her daughter Carol in Arlington, MA and played flute in the Waltham American Legion Band, the Harvard Musical Association Sight reading Orchestra and the Harvard Summer Pops Band, playing her final concert (with Waltham) 4 days before she died.

Doris was predeceased by her brother David McNabb, niece Sylvia McNabb Tillman, husbands David English, Julian Kycia and Eric Youngquist, and daughters Barbara English and Diane English Slaybaugh.

Doris is survived by her Children: David McNabb English, Noel English, spouse, Christopher Quentin Kycia, Lany Kycia, spouse, Carol Anne Kycia, by her Siblings: Sylvia Rattray, Gerald McNabb, Margaret McNabb spouse, Arthur McNabb, by her nieces and nephews: Karen Rattray Brock, Randall Rattray, Andy Rattray, Audrey McNabb Barrett, by her Grandchildren: Brooks Slaybaugh, Keiko Slaybaugh, spouse, Matthew Slaybaugh, Tracy Mann, spouse, Elisa Erali Pollack, Travis Pollack, spouse, Karen Erali Inami, Kotaro Inami, spouse, Rachel English, Olivia Kycia, Amelia Kycia, Quentin Kycia, by her Great Grand-children: Malcolm Slaybaugh, Theo Slaybaugh, Calvin Slaybaugh, Rebecca Pollack, Andreas Specht, spouse, Sarah Pollack, Anthony Soto Inami, and by numerous other extended family members.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Burial will be at the Westlawn Cemetery in Williamstown, MA on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 am. Memorial Service will be held at the Williamstown First Congregational Church on Saturday, September 20 at 2 pm followed by a reception starting at 3 pm in the Community Hall the church. Donations may be made to the Williamstown First Congregational Church - 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267.