Corinne B. "Dub" Young

Corinne Brownlee “Dub” Young passed away on July 15, 2017, in Dallas, Texas; just four months shy of her 98th birthday. She was given the nickname Dub by her father. When he held her for the first time, he said, “You are just a love-a-dub.” That comment described her loving personality and generous spirit perfectly. Thus, it remained the only name that family members and long-time friends used throughout her life. Dub was born in Colfax, Louisiana, on November 14, 1919, to William A. and Clara Wells Brownlee. Her education was provided by the public schools and by the nuns at Sacred Heart Convent in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This combination of teachers and role models helped shape her into the thoughtful and giving person she was during her entire lifetime. Her religious training inspired her commitment to ethics, honesty, and strong traditional values. The family moved to Silsbee, Texas, where at 16 Dub met her future husband, F. C. “Mutt” Young. They were married on January 2, 1938. During WWII, Mutt’s service in the Army Air Corp took them to Fresno, California. After his honorable discharge, they settled in Houston, Texas, where they opened Freeway Lumber Company. Their only child, Charlyne Frances, was born in Houston on November 12, 1955. Following the untimely death of her husband in 1963, Dub continued to manage Freeway Lumber until 1990. During that time, she served on the Board of Directors of the Retail Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association of Houston from 1975 until 1981 and held the office of President for several of those years. She was highly respected by her peers, employees, and long-term customers for her business acumen, honesty, and integrity. An avid bowler, Dub was actively involved in the Texas Women’s Bowling Association as well as the National Women’s Bowling Association as both a player and a team sponsor for many years. After her retirement from Freeway Lumber, Dub moved to Huntsville, Texas, where she managed the family’s residential rental holdings. She was very active in the Walker County Democratic Party both as a fundraiser and Chairperson. In 2003, Dub moved to Dallas with her sister, Mary Elizabeth Gates, to be closer to family Dub is preceded in death by her parents, William A. and Clara Wells Brownlee; her husband, F.C. “Mutt” Young; her sister, Judge Mary Elizabeth Gates; her brother-in-law Judge Amos A. Gates; her beloved dogs Buddy and Nickie; and many other friends and family. Dub loved her daughter, her family, her dogs, her politics, and watching sports, especially the Dallas Mavericks. Her remarkable strength and wit carried her through nearly a century of life with an unfailing grace. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Dub is survived by her daughter Charlyne Frances Young and partner Dan Koester; niece Mary Frances Gibbons and husband Dr. Gene Gibbons; great-niece Ronda Gibbons White and husband Mark White; great-niece Wells Gibbons Housson and husband Matthew Housson; five great-great nieces and nephews and long-time caretaker Charlean Watson. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM, with rosary to begin at 7:00 PM on Friday, July 28, 2017 in the chapel of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville, Texas. A Catholic Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Huntsville, Texas. Interment will follow the service at Adickes Addition of Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas. Full obituary may be viewed and memorial condolences made to the family at www.shmfh.com.

Corinne B. "Dub" Young

November 14, 1919 - July 15, 2017