John William Young III

John William Young III, also known endearingly as Poppy to those who knew him best, was born August 11th, 1952 in McMurray Pennsylvania to John and Beverly Young. He graduated from McMurray High school and set off for a life of adventure. Traveling across the country in his Volkswagen Bus, he stopped in places long enough to work as a line cook, save up some money, and then keep on moving. He eventually made his way to the Pacific Northwest drawn by the beauty and adventure of the the Cascade Mountain Range. One well known story is from when John first arrived in Portland, Oregon in 1973 and immediately made his way to Mt. Hood and climbed to the top wearing a pair of shorts and some cheap sneakers; wet and freezing John fell in love with this mountainous region and decided to call it home. John’s love for the outdoors led him to become a trail guide for Upward Trails hiking group where he met the young, local Portland gal that he married in 1984 at the trail head at Shepherd’s Dell in the Columbia River Gorge. Marilynn had two daughters that John took care of as his own. One of those daughters had a son in 1986 that John and Marilynn took in, starting out as new parents all over again with a grandson they would both raise as if he were their own. He was exactly the dad Ian needed and the husband Marilynn deserved. John was a diligent, faithful, hard working, attentive, patient and very present husband and father. He never missed Ian’s baseball or basketball games or Marilynn’s birthday or their anniversary. John was a prolific artist and craftsman who suffered no lack of creativity or ingenuity. He could build decks and houses, he could make you a leather purse and then swap out your transmission or build you a computer with extra parts he had lying around and then gift you a years worth of vegetables he grew and canned himself. He was the person everyone could count on; from his family to a large circle of friends and a fair share of strangers, everyone called on him when they needed something fixed, built or figured out and he always, always got the job done. His endless skill set and talents were surpassed only by his selfless care for others, he was unendingly others oriented, it was almost supernatural how willing and able he was to act in love for someone else’s benefit. He was a true man of God with a fortified and longstanding faith in Jesus as his Lord and Savior and this was the true source of his selfless spirit. For decades he led the household that he had adopted, he was the rock upon which everyone else could stand, the help that everyone knew they could depend on, the call everyone knew would be answered. His absence leaves a hole in his family that can only be endured by their faith in Jesus, who John loved so much. John went home to be with the Lord on August 1, 2021 at the age of 68. He is survived by his wife Marilynn of 37 years, his son Ian, his son John, his stepmom Harriet, his brother Gary and sister Sheri and a number of grandkids and great grandkids. Johns life blessed everyone that knew him and his memory will be cherished until the day we see him again.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 21st, at 2pm at Door of Hope Church - 3210 SE Taylor St, Portland, OR 97214. All are welcome to attend.