Located in Alturas Cemetery is the headstone of Mary P. Young, who was born on Jan. 5, 1904 and died on May 24, 2004 making her a centenarian by a few months. She shares this headstone with her husband, Gillman Guy Young, who lived from 1887 to 1965. I found an online
obituary from the Modoc County Record for Mary that reads:
Mary P. Young passed away March 24, 2004, in Alturas, Calif., at the age of 100 years.
Born January 5, 1904, in Green County, Wisconsin, Mary's parents were Martin Cook and Margaret Dunphy Croak. Mary grew up on the family farm with three brothers and five sisters. Her education began in the local county school, and after high school she attended the Lyceum Arts Academy in Chicago, where she studied acting.
After graduation she joined the Ellison-White Company of the Chautauqua play circuits. There she met G. Guy Young, a company director on the seven-day circuit. In 1928 the two married in San Jose, CA. Live theatre was no longer thriving after the advent of the "talkies," so Mr. Young went into the insurance business and came to Alturas in 1930 as an agent. Originally planning to stay for just one year, they remained 74 years. G. Guy and Mary worked together in the insurance business until his death in 1965. Mary was the last surviving charter member of the Alturas Garden Club, of which she was also a past president. She was deeply involved in the negotiations with the Southern Pacific for the purchase of the Whistle Stop station as a meeting place, as well as the land for the Alturas Garden Club, whose meetings continue there to this day.
The Alturas Cemetery District was another focus of Mrs. Young's energies from 1950 to 2001. Much of the current landscaping configuration of the cemetery is a result of her input.
Mary is survived by her son, Superior Court Judge Guy Martin Young and wife Gloria, of Alturas, CA.; daughter, Mary Colleen Lowe and husband Maurice of Taos, New Mexico; five grandchildren: Margaret and Michael Goben, of Sparks, NV.; Marilyn and Robert Baker, of Janesville, CA.; Janet and Michael Server, of Alturas, CA.; Lisa and Dennis Reed Jr., of Alturas, CA.; and Nathaniel and Denise Lowe, of New York, N.Y. There are nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter and an infant great-granddaughter.
Mary had always cared deeply for the people and the history of Modoc County and felt herself blessed to have lived here.
Services were conducted by the Rev. Patrick Henry at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alturas on Wednesday, March 31 at 10 a.m. Interment followed at the Alturas Cemetery.
Remembrances may be directed to the Alturas Garden Club, Alturas, CA 96101.