Steve Young

Tupelo - Ben Stephen Young, 61, died Saturday, May 14, 2011, at The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. after an extended illness. A Lee County native and lifelong resident, he was born July 26, 1949, to Benny F. and Gena Malone Young. He was a graduate of Shannon High School and attended Itawamba Junior College. He was a US Army veteran, serving in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. For over 30 years he worked as a lab techician for Cook-Coggin Engineers Inc. He also worked in the automotive department at Wal-mart a number of years. A 2004 lung transplant recipient, he was active in raising awareness for organ donation. Earlier in his life, he enjoyed fishing with his daughters and was a member of a bowling league in Tupelo. The joy of his life was spending time with his grandson. He attended church at The Orchard.

Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Dr. David Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include his his wife of 40 years, Becky Drummond Young of Tupelo; his mother, Gena Malone Young of Verona; two daughters, Shelley Young of Vernon, Ala. and Miranda Lindley (Jason) of Tupelo; his sister, Sandra Gaskin of Verona; his grandson, Preston Lindley; his uncle, Charles Ray Young (Jean) of Houston; his sister-in-law, Barbara Bratton of Rockledge, Fla.; his brother-in-law, Matt Drummond (Cindy) of Tremont; two nephews, Tyler Gaskin of Horn Lake and Ashley Gaskin of Nashville; and a niece, Lindsay Drummond of Faulkner; special friends, Jesse Lowery and Walter Hill both of Jacksonville.

He was preceded in death by his father, Benny F. Young and his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. James Mitchel Malone and Mr. and Mrs. Bud Young

Pallbearers will be Tyler Gaskin, Ashley Gaskin, Mike Malone, Tommy Malone, Barry Malone, and Brian Aldridge

Honorary pallbearers will be Matt Drummond, Jason Lindley, Casey Jones, Bobby Williams, Alan Young, and David Parker; and the doctors, nurses, and staff of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to The Mayo Clinic for Organ Transplants; online at www.mayoclinic/development.org ; or mailed to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.