Longtime Whidbey Island resident, LeeRoy Harold Young was born May 23, 1927 in Seattle. With his family he moved to Whidbey Island in 1943 when Roy was 16. He enjoyed playing football, and graduated from Langley High, with his class of 18, in 1945. This is also where he fell hard for a girl named “Tootie.”

LeeRoy was 6’4” when he enlisted in the Army. After being honorably discharged as a sergeant 1st class in 1947 he returned to his one and only love, Clarice “Tootie” Auvil. They married on May 14, 1948, in Langley, Wash.

Roy and Tootie moved to West Seattle and raised their family. Donna came in 1949, Ron in 1952, and Laurie in 1958.

For 56 years Roy was an American Legion member and for a year served as commander of Burien Post #134.

For 51 years Roy was a member of the 40et8.

He was a longtime member, board member, and for a year served as president of the Rod and Gun Club. He was a lifetime member of the NRA.

In 1953, Roy began his career working with his father, Harry, at Mobile Crane Co. Projects included the Space Needle, Science Center, Arena, I-5, and Sea-Tac Airport. Home movies were made.

For 65 years LeeRoy was a member of the Operating Engineer’s Union Local #302.

Roy was a collector of things. More friends than we could count added a hat to the ceiling in his basement. He was a man that always knew where his stuff was, even though it might look a little crowded, and he always knew if you had moved anything. If a friend needed to borrow something, Roy probably had it.

With friends, in the summer of 1960, Roy and Tootie put up the walls of their cabin on Columbia Beach. In 1976, they built their retirement home — volleyball games, Polar Bear hot tub parties, holidays, their children’s weddings, the love of family and friends. So many good friends played at the beach.

In his recliner in the morning, with the tide going out, our Man’s Man, the Unofficial Mayor of Columbia Beach, had a Dewar’s White Label on crushed ice. He thought of a dear friend and then spoke about August. All the important times of his life that had happened in August.

We lost LeeRoy Young peacefully on Aug. 19, 2013, with his beloved wife Tootie sitting next to him. It was high tide under a full moon.

Roy was survived by his wife Tootie of 65 years, Donna (Rick) Keefer, Ron (Kari) Young, Laurie (Patrick) Young Driscoll; seven grandchildren, Ian, Colin, Katie, Nathan, Shane, Levi, and Max; seven great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Sophie, Nina, Joanna, Callie, Natilye and Johnathyn LeeRoy.

Our family would like to deeply thank the nurses, especially Jesse at Home Health Care for the loving care, support, and friendship that they gave to LeeRoy and his family.

Please join our family for a grave side service at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Clinton at 1 p.m. Aug. 24.

A celebration of his life to follow at the Rod and Gun Club, Langley from 2 to 4 p.m.