James Young, 95

3/11/1919 - 1/21/2015

James Young of Hayden, Idaho, shed his earthly ties on Jan. 21, 2015, after a short and sudden illness. He passed peacefully while surrounded by his loving children to whom he dedicated his entire life.

Born in Motherwell, Scotland, James immigrated with his family at age 4 and was raised in Benton, Ill., the son of a coal miner. He worked in retail before enlisting in the Army for World War II, where he served honorably in the Signal Corps. There, James learned communications and electronics. He distinguished himself in North Africa and Italy, many times as a detached special unit with British forces, and was awarded two Bronze and one Silver Battle Stars.

After the war, James earned a degree in electronic engineering, and was chosen as an instructor at Devry Technical Institute before he left to start a family and a career in radio engineering and broadcasting. He had a golden voice that stood out in the church choir and across the radio waves as well.

James once again served our country during Vietnam and the Cold War when he left radio and joined the civil service at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. There, he supervised the repair and production of radar and sonar arrays for our nation's nuclear submarines, and was selected to help build the first U.S. government radio/radar installation at the North Pole during the Cold War.

James became a single parent in 1965 and dedicated his life to his children. He instilled the bigger lessons of honor, integrity, and virtue and led by example.

He was preceded in death by all of his brothers and sisters, his wife Norma, as well as many four-legged friends who gave him years of loving friendship and are now walking him across that rainbow bridge.

James is survived by his four children: Deborah Young-Henry of Hayden, Karen Brown of Paso Robles, Calif., Peggy Huiting of Sacramento, Calif., and Dr. Gavin Young of Hayden; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

James was an engineer, broadcaster, and musician - but most of all, a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

A private small graveside memorial will be held on his 96th birthday. We request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Kootenai Humane Society.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.