Andrew William Young Jr “Willie”, age 56, passed away tragically on July 29, 2020 at the farm. Willie was born January 25, 1964 in Sedro-Woolley, Washington to Andrew and Tietje (Dykstra) Young. Andy and Willie shared the same birthday 22 years apart.
Willie graduated in 1982 from Sedro-Woolley High School. In high school Willie was active in FFA and received numerous awards.
In 1984, he married Kimberley Mitchell. In August of 2006, they got the surprise of their lives and welcomed their son Edward “Eddie” William. Eddie was Willie’s pride and joy. They enjoyed hunting, driving the Peterbilt and working together on the farm. Willie loved watching Eddie play baseball and sharing all the highlights. Wii Sports bowling was Willie’s favorite video game and he even allowed Eddie to win once.
He spent his entire life working on the farm; in March of 2020, the milk cows were sold. Willie kept some youngstock on the farm and Dean VanDyken offered him a job driving silage truck. Willie and Eddie spent just about every day together either on the farm or in the truck. He loved being the “employee”, for the first time, he was not responsible for the equipment. Willie was determined that Dean would put Willie and Eddie’s names on the door of their new truck. They were going to be the “employee” of the year.
Willie was the MacGyver in everyone’s life. He was an electrician, water fixer, mechanic, welder, equipment operator, cow doctor and handler; all was self-taught. He was amazing with cows, almost like a cow whisperer. He gave the best cow pedicures, could handle delivering the hardest calvings. Spring and summer, when it was time for the tractors to go to the fields, were Willie’s favorite times of the year. He loved making hay and getting to play with all his big toys.
There is only one Willie Young, he would do anything for just about anyone, he could drive anything, even a Peterbilt. He complained a lot, but that was so everyone would know how happy he was. He was a man of action and few words, unless you messed up your actions; then his words got louder and more colorful.
Inside that tough and gruff exterior was the most incredible, caring, compassionate, dependable, funny, smart, talented, hard-working man. For someone who hardly left the farm, he touched so many people. He was the man, the myth and a legend.
Willie is survived by his wife, Kimberley of 36 years; son, Edward; his father and mother Andrew and Tietje (Tillie) Young; sisters, Kimberly Buchanan, Cornelia (Matt) Miksovsky, Tietje Kaye (Kelly) Miller; father and mother In-law Norm “Newt” and Linda Mitchell; brothers-in-law Mike Mitchell and Ron (Jamie) Mitchell; 11 nephews, seven nieces, several great nieces and nephews; aunts; uncles; cousins and many close friends.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Opa and Oma Dykstra; paternal grandparents, Charlie Young and Imogene Reed; best friend, Mikey Hyatt.
A time of visitation will be held at Lemley Chapel on August 5 from 11-6 pm. A celebration of life will be held at the Young Family Farm on Burmaster Rd on August 8 at 1 pm.
A memorial fund has been created for Eddie at Heritage Bank in Burlington. A scholarship fund in Willie’s name has been set-up at Edward Jones in Sedro-Woolley, by the Skagit County Cattlemen’s Association.
I only seen him when he was very little, same age as my son. His Mom worked with mine at Sea First many years ago. My prayers to all his family.
You will be truly missed by many who loved you, so much❤💔❤
My heart goes out to you Kim and Eddie , and the rest of your family. there are no words to help your pain ,
No actions that help you at night when all you have are your memories.
So extremely sorry for your loss 😢
All my sorries go out to Kim, Eddie and the rest of Willie’s family. I will always be thankful for the many Sundays that he and Kim stopped by to load up my daughter and her horse for rides up at the trailhead. We have sort of lost touch in the past few years but my thoughts are with you all. Stu and his homebrew was always there with “Beer for the baler”!!
Thinking of you all,so very sorry.
We are so very sorry for your loss. Always enjoyed visiting with Willy he will be missed. Take care ❤
The Tears of the Earth
Become the Smiles in Heaven
When Love has Quickened Them
With Devine Life.
Dearest Kim, Eddie and all your family
There are few words that express our sorrow over your loss. We will miss his sweet smiling face from high up on that Farmall seat at hay time every summer. Willie is forever a part of the landscape.
Prayers for the family of Willie Young.
There are not enough words to express how sorry we are for your loss. I remember that sweet little guy and that infectious smile of his.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
To the Young and Mitchell families. We want to you to know our heart aches with you as you experience this surreal and sad time with Willie’s passing. Thankfully, God’s people will have the opportunity to ask someday the “Why”. We are encouraged with those that have given testimony concerning where their strength is coming from; that is from the Lord, enabling them to bear this experience and still glorify God’s Name. We know God will accomplish His divinely appointed purposes in each of our lives. We want you to know during these hard days you have our love and prayers. We thank the Lord that we had the opportunity to have known Willie and his family; mom, dad and sisters. You will always be treasured friends in our heart.
(gusbuma@yahoo.com)
Prayers and love to Willie’s family.
So sorry for your loss.
I remember Willie being quiet, but remember him laughing at our Halloween decorations.
Best wishes to his entire family and
Hugs to Kim and Eddie.
I met Willie through my father, Jim Taylor. I lived on Hoehn Road for a short time, and whenever my family needed help with anything, here would come Willie and my dad to the rescue. He treated me like part of the family, always had a smile. I know he will be missed by so many, including my father, in which he spent quite a bit of time with. My prayers and thoughts go to the family in this time of loss.
How well he must have been loved to love so well! May your wonderful memories comfort you all.
I am so sorry for this tragic loss to your family. Words are hard, but know I am thinking and praying for all of you during this time.
sorry for your loss
I am so sorry for your loss, I enjoyed the time I spent with your family. May the good Lord hold you in the palm of his hand 🙏🙏.
Kaye, Cori, Kim…..Your family has been on my mind heavy, since I heard the horrible news. There is no way to explain the hole that is torn in your heart when you loose a sibling. There is no way for a parent to understand the heartache that comes from loosing a child. And Eddie will forever hold his precious memories of his Father in his heart. I have experienced every one of those tragedies. This will change you. But I know your family. No matter what, you will be there for each other…. I only met your gruff and tough brother a few times. But I know he was a good man…. you just knew…
My heart goes out to all of you, Willie will be missed for sure. I’m grateful to have Willie stories. I’m grateful I can call him my friend. I’m grateful for you, Willie’s family and my heart hurts with grief for all of us losing such an unforgettable individual. He could make you laugh as easy as he could make you cry. But at the end of the day, you knew how he felt about you. He worked as hard as he played. Farmer Willie, you rocked every sense of the title. You always worked so very hard. Your Dad’s hero, your son’s hero, your sister’s hero, your wife’s hero. Now you will be God’s hero. Take care my friend, until we meet again. Hopefully you have all God’s animals corralled and fed. Thank you for your friendship and one last time I will have a whiskey toast to you my friend, CHEERS!♡♡♡
Willy was gruff and to the point at times but underneath he was a kind person and his family meant the world to him. My heart goes out to the Young and Mitchell families. Treasurer your memories.
Kim, I am so sorry for you loss. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Gonna miss that guy.RIP.
A man with few words is why it was good to witness Kim and willies wedding vows, I knew then I would at least get to hear him talk. Willie had a boat and took it around the lake a lot, we all had good laughs about farmers tans and his hickory shirt he went swimming in. The best news was when they couldn’t make it to the family reunion cuz Kim delivered Eddie that morning.
My heart goes out to all of his family! Willie was one of a kind, a dear family friend, and a farming inspiration! He will be greatly missed!
Willie was one of a kind. He was like a older brother to me. Who even liked to pull tricks. One time he was helping me do something and one of the tools he was using ran by batteries. He’s like, “man I think the batteries are dead. We better check them”. So he goes you know how to check if a battery is still good? I’m like no. “Well here let me tell you, take this battery and stick it to your tongue”. Guess what? The battery was still good! That was the type of guy he was. Miss you Will. Family you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you all! – Mina Kua