Jeffrey Garner Young

Jeffrey Garner Young, age 58, passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, January 22, 2021 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Jeff was born in Lubbock, Texas, to Garner and Elizabeth Young, and married the love of his life, Kathy Lydic Young in 2004. A graduate of Eldorado High School and CNM, he also served in the Texas and New Mexico National Guard.

Jeff had a stellar career at Sandia Labs, with a short stint at Los Alamos Labs, specializing in weapons design and, eventually, dismantlement. As an avid history fan and voracious reader, Jeff accumulated a library with thousands of books, including many unique and rare editions. He enjoyed watching college sports, especially Texas Tech Football.  

During his freshman year in high school, Jeff moved from East Texas to New Mexico with his family and has remained in the Land of Enchantment ever since – he truly loved New Mexico as his home. He met his wife Kathy in Sunday School, where they both shared a strong faith in Jesus and His teachings. Jeff’s faith remained strong, despite the challenge of being diagnosed with and suffering from the effects of MS. He never hesitated to share his faith, and even taught himself some Hebrew and Greek so that he could read Scripture as originally written. Jeff was incredibly bright and often served as a resource for friends and family on sports, politics and history, and his coworkers on the history of the programs he worked with at the national labs. At the height of popularity of the TV show “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire,” family members remarked that if they ever were lucky enough to get on the show, Jeff Young would be their “phone-a-friend” lifeline, no matter the subject.  Although brilliant and well-versed in all of these intellectual pursuits, Jeff simply was a good and kind man, with a great sense of humor and a warm heart for people and pets.  If you were lucky enough to be related to him, you knew you were loved and valued. 

Jeff is survived by his wife, Kathy of Albuquerque; his brother, Stephen Young and wife, Lydia, of the Houston area, and their sons, Trevor and Ethan, who loved their Uncle Jeff dearly.  He also leaves behind numerous Young, Garner, Mitchell and Alder cousins, aunts, and uncles in Texas.  He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, and his parents, Elizabeth and Garner Young. 

Due to Covid restrictions in New Mexico, his funeral will be livestreamed on February 6, 2021 at 10:00 am. There will be a graveside service and an internment of his ashes in Winters, Texas at a later date.  When Covid restrictions are lifted in New Mexico, the family would like to give everyone a chance to come share a memory with the family and celebrate the life of our beloved Jeff.  We will post an announcement on Facebook at that time.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you would give a donation to a local charity such as Roadrunner Foodbank or Bedz4Kids, as giving to his local community was so important to Jeff.

Jeffrey Garner Young may not have been “the most interesting man in the world,” like the man in the TV ad, but he came quite close. 

To access the live stream click on the video link below the service information.