Joseph Alvan Young

Joseph Alvan Young Jr., the son of Joe Young and Alta Ward Young, was born in Chandler, Oklahoma, on October 4, 1932. He attended all of his lower education in Chandler, graduating in 1950. Serving in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1955, he was an aircraft mechanic and electrician. After his honorable discharge from the service, he entered the University of Oklahoma where earned a BA and LLB from the OU Law School, graduating in 1960. While in law school he married Ruth Ann Cross who started her teaching career by supporting a law student.

Upon graduation, Joe returned to Chandler where he was a partner with his father in private practice. In 1960, he was elected County Attorney of Lincoln County, however, he resigned in 1963 and moved to Woodward, Oklahoma, where he was associated with Bill Burkett in the practice of law. He served as City Attorney for Woodward from 1963 to 1967.

When the County Attorney system was abolished and replaced with District Attorneys, Joe ran and was elected District Attorney for District 26, which included Alfalfa, Dewey, Major, Woods, and Woodward Counties. He served as District Attorney for one term from 1967-1971.

In 1970, he ran for and was elected as District Judge in District 4, a nine county district which included all the counties he represented as District Attorney, plus Blaine, Kingfisher, Grant, and Garfield Counties. He served three terms as the District Judge, living in Woodward, and traveling as a circuit judge during the hectic oil boom period from 1970-1983.

In 1983, a new position was created on the Intermediate Court of Civil Appeals, and Joe ran and was elected to that post. He worked out of the State Capital and moved to Edmond, Oklahoma. He served as Presiding Judge of the Northwest Judicial District, President of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference, and a special appointment to the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.

In 1985, he resigned from the Court of Appeals to work for Kerr McGee Corporation, a Fortune 500 energy company. While there he served as Associate General Counsel in charge of litigation. He retired from Kerr-McGee in 1994.

The above portions of the obituary was written by Joe Young.

During his retirement he remained active in Chandler and enjoyed fishing on Lake Tenkiller, playing with his dogs TK, Toby, and Jake, drinking coffee with friends, attending ball games and spending time with family. He loved sycamore trees and being a purple martin landlord. He was always a gifted storyteller, Chandler historian, wise handyman, and a good friend and listener.

In 1986, Joe and Ruth Ann moved back to their hometown, Chandler, and lived there until his death on July 27, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, and their three children, Tommy Joseph Young of Oklahoma City, Marilyn Ann Young of Chandler and her two children, Kyle Joseph Morse and Valerie Gene Morse, and Robert Houston Young of Seiling, Oklahoma and his wife Belinda and his three children, Kade Young and his wife Taylor, Kahle Young and his wife Jennifer and their daughter Elizabeth Jane, and McKenzie Young; Robert's step-sons Brandon Bullard, Troy Bullard and his wife Shannon, and Tyson Bullard and his wife Micah; his sister in law Sherry Young and her husband Gary of Enid, Oklahoma, and numerous friends and extended family. He is predeceased by his parents Joe and Alta Young, his sisters, Jo Ann Young, who died in infancy, and Beverly McCarthy; and his son in law Patrick Morse.

He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Chandler, where his final services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on July 31, 2023. A private burial at Oakpark Cemetery in Chandler will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chandler Alumni Association, P.O. Box 501, Chandler, Oklahoma, 74834.

Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service of Chandler. An online guestbook is available at www.parksbrothers.net.