Tommy Lewis Young

To watch the service live on May 6, 2021, click this link at 12:00 Noon.  https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1620245699113999

Tommy Lewis Young, 84, was called to rest in peace with His Lord in Heaven on Monday, May 3, 2021, at his home in Mary Esther, Florida. He was born on September 4th, 1936 on Chicken Ridge near Richlands, Virginia. He was the youngest child of eight born to the late James Wiley and Mary Jane Young. He was brother to the late Hildredge, Inas, Lucille, Columbus, Irene, James, and Dorothy. His family and loved ones will remember him as a man full of strength, determination, motivation, grit, and courage. He was full of ideas and aspirations, and he worked hard to fulfill those dreams. The family was very important to him. He was a loving son, brother, father, husband, uncle, friend, mentor, and grandfather. Tom cared passionately and provided generously for his family. He was a loving and devoted husband to Millie for 43 years, a loving and dedicated father, and a very fun and involved Pappa to the grandkids! He loved gathering for holidays, fishing trips to the Virginia Mountains with the family, and trips to Hawaii. Tom enjoyed investing in others, whether guiding a grandchild or encouraging a younger builder in development along the way. He cared about the next generation and took deliberate steps to carry blessings into the future for those he loved. Tom, “ T L” grew up with great ambition and filled with hopes for the future. He left Virginia at 18 to serve the U.S Army and was stationed in Germany, where he learned to operate equipment during the reconstruction. When Tom returned, he drove a coal truck with the Jewell Valley Coal company. He then moved to Springfield, Ohio, and worked with International Harvester. At this same time, he learned about construction and began building homes and developing. He was a builder in Ohio for ten years, He married Millie in 1978, and they moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He built and developed in Fort Walton, Destin, Navarre, Niceville, and Crestview, and left his fingerprint throughout the Emerald Coast over the past forty years. Tom loved watching sports, car racing, and horse races. He grew up playing cards, and that continued throughout his life around the kitchen table playing rook and rummy with family and poker nights with the guys, Tom enjoyed driving all kinds of trucks, cars, and construction equipment. Tom loved bluegrass and country music and enjoyed music festivals and cruises. Tom participated at Hollywood Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Millie Mae, his children, Karen Renee Helsing (Steve), Thomas Keith Young (Paul), Kimberly Denise Smith (Eric), Rhonda Kay Sisi (Lahhoud), Michael Cobble (Lindy) , and Mark Cobble. He is survived by 8 grandchildren - Alecs Strayer (Rachel), Ryan Helsing, Connor Helsing, Daniel Helsing, Kyle Helsing, Lauren Helsing, Caroline Smith, and Evan Smith. Tom is survived by 1 great-grandchild, Gryphon Strayer, in addition to many nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 161 Racetrack Rd. NW, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547 followed by a funeral service at 12:00 P.M.  Burial will immediately follow at Beal Memorial Cemetery.  Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

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