Lillian Young Elam

Lillian was the oldest of three children born to William Carl Young and Louisa Anna Rhodes. Lillian was born on February 23, 1915 and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. She met her future husband, Joseph Barton Elam III of Mansfield, Louisiana at a Notre Dame USO dance in 1941. Lillian later traveled to San Francisco where she married Joe on January 24, 1944 while he was on leave from the Navy. After the war she accompanied Joe, a petroleum engineer, to the oil fields of Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana. They finally settled in Houston in 1961 where Joe continued his engineering career with the Esso Pipeline Company (later ExxonMobil Corporation) while Lillian managed the family home and cared for the couple’s two children, Judith Ann, and Joseph Barton Elam IV. After both children left for college, Lillian began work as Circulation Manager for the Cordovan Publishing Company in Houston, Texas.

Joe, Sr. died on May 11, 1982 ending a loving marriage of 38 years. Lillian remained in the family home and carried on a productive life filled with travel and grandchildren until she moved into University Place in July of 2013 at the age of 98.

The family would like to thank Doctor Gu, the nurses, staff, and management of The University Place, for the loving care and assistance given to Lillian. Lillian will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Joe, at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery during a family graveside service.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, her sister Evelyn Ferguson of South Bend, Indiana and her brother, William Young of Chicago, Illinois. She is survived by her son, Joseph Barton Elam IV of Sugar Land, Texas, her daughter Judith Ann Elam Cook of Lakeland, Florida and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she loved dearly.