Leighton Felker Young Jr.
11/09/1937 - 06/03/2024
Leighton Felker Young Jr., 86 of Houston passed away June 3, 2024. Leighton was born November 9, 1937, in Houston, Texas to Leighton and Sarah Young. He is survived by his wife, Joan, of 67 years. Joan and Leighton met on a blind date the last few weeks of their senior year of high school.
Leighton was born and raised in Houston, Texas and graduated from St. Thomas High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Geology in 1959 and attended Rice University for his master's degree. He began his career as a geologist at Austral Oil Company. He became an independent geologist and then formed Irish Oil & Gas Company. He was a member of HGS, AAPG, AIPG, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology, SIPES, SPEE, and many more.
At Notre Dame, he was a golden glove champion boxer. He was a four-year letterman and reached the finals of the Bengal Bouts each year. He was the Bengal Bouts champion in 1959 and named the most valuable boxer. Later, he took those skills to the ice.
As a young adult, Leighton enjoyed playing ice hockey in Houston and made lifelong friends through this association. They traveled to Mexico City to play the Mexico Olympic team and played a team from Russia. His love for the game led to him working with others to establish the first youth hockey organization (HYHO) at Winterland Ice Arena. He supported professional hockey in Houston by being the goal judge for both the Apollos and the Aeros. He put his heart and soul into saving the WHA for Houston.
He was a strong man of faith and loved his family dearly. He attended Bible Study Fellowship for over 15 years. He was a member of St. Cyril of Alexandria and St. John Vianney Catholic Communities. He helped many quietly behind the scenes. One of his favorite quotes was, "There is always a way." His passion for his family was apparent by his loyal attendance at sporting events and other extracurricular activities.
He is preceded into death by his parents, Sarah and Leighton Young, his brothers, John and Thomas, and his great-granddaughter, Hendrix Vernon. He is survived by his children - Cindy Young Vernon, Melanie (Devin) Heasley, Trey (Sarah) Young, and Julie (Mike) Rucker and grandchildren Nick (Caroline) Heasley, Trevor (Candy) Vernon, Brandon (Hope) Heasley, Jared Vernon, Megan Rucker, Jake (McKenna) Rucker, Travis Rucker, Haley (Garrett) Heasley Tolivar, Leighton Young IV, Hardy Young, and May Young and 7 great grandchildren, Sisters-in-law Carole Hobbs and Jan Young, and many nephews and nieces.