Michael Joseph Young

Michael Joseph Young, M.D., age 61, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, departed this world on Friday, December 29, 2017, after a lengthy illness, surrounded by his family. Dr. Young was born on February 26, 1956, in Bangkok, Thailand, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. He was the son of Donna Koch Young and the late Dr. Mitchell Michael Young of Texarkana, Texas. He was a graduate of Texas High School, Class of 1974, in Texarkana; was an Eagle Scout in Troop 5 of Caddo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and served as Chief of the Order of the Arrow of the Akela Wahinapay Lodge. where he spent his summers working at Camp Pioneer Boy Scouts Camp in Hatfield, Arkansas. He played football for Texas High School, Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was a walk-on at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He worked for Electronic Data Systems in Plano, Texas, under H. Ross Perot prior to being accepted to the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, from 1983-1987. He graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center with a Doctor of Medicine and completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1987-1992, and a Spine Fellowship in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1992-1993. He had practiced medicine as an orthopedic surgeon in Hot Springs since 1993, with the past six years at CHI St. Vincent Orthopedics Clinic. He loved his patients, his medical colleagues and the honor and pleasure of working and operating with his brother, Chris. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Mitchell Young, and his grandparents, Milburn "Dad" and Margaret Hunter Young of Texarkana, Texas, and Walter and Esther Koch of St. Louis, Missouri. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Willett Young; his daughters, Jordan Young of Santa Barbara, California, Kate Young Keller (Carl Keller) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Merritt Young (Cliff Biedenharn); and his beloved grandson, Baer Biedenharn, of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is also survived by his sisters, Lesa Young of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Mary Ellen Young of Texarkana, Texas; his brothers and their spouses, Dr. Mark Young of McKinney, Texas, Dr. Tom and Kathleen Young of Texarkana, Texas, Dr. David and Karen Young of Fredericksburg, Texas, Dr. Chris and Tonya Young of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Dr. John and Heather Young of Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Matt and Cindy Young of Texarkana, Texas, and Dr. Patrick and Corie Young of Bend, Oregon; and 32 nieces and nephews. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, January 3 at 6 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 100 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Thursday, January 4 at 10:00 a.m. Family visitation will follow the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his honor to St. Mary's Catholic Church. Dr. Young's family would like to thank everyone for their steadfast love and support during this time. He was a warrior and fought courageously until the end. He will be forever loved. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.