Katheryn Alice Young-Jenkins

Katheryn Alice Young-Jenkins was born July 27, 1922 in Des Moines, Iowa. She was the daughter of Frank R. and Sylvia Marie (Tingle) Clarkson. Kathy was raised and attended school in Des Moines, graduating from East Central High School in 1940. Kathy married her high school sweetheart, Spencer G. Ashman in 1941, father of Sandra (Ashman) Brown. Kathy and Spencer later divorced, and Kathy remained in Des Moines where she worked as a front clerk and cashier at a local dry cleaning shop for several years. While working at the cleaners, Kathy met an oil field worker from Oklahoma, Glenn Ireland and the couple later married and moved to Cushing, Oklahoma for a short time. Following a divorce, Kathy moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma in 1957 where she has continued to reside the remainder of her life. After moving to Cleveland, Kathy accepted employment as a clerk at the Ben Franklin Variety Store where she worked for a few years before marrying the love of her life, Lloyd Dean Young on April 29, 1960. Shortly after their marriage, Kathy began working at Jackís Diner for a short while before purchasing the business and moving it to a new location and changing the name to U and I Grill. Kathy remained active in the cafÈ until the early 1970ís. In 1971, she accepted a position with the Cleveland Health Center as secretary and was employed there for nearly eleven years. Lloyd preceded her in death on July 26, 1984. Shortly after his death, Kathy began working as the Pawnee County Election Board secretary and worked in that capacity for nearly nine years, until her retirement in 1993. Kathy was married to Lee Roy Jenkins on October 26, 1985. The couple loved to travel and they sponsored many group trips for Cleveland citizens over the next fifteen years, traveling to nearly every state. They also sponsored many cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean; Kathyís favorite ship was the Carnival Conquest. Lee Roy preceded her in death on January 14, 2000. Kathy continued to enjoy traveling, dancing and visiting. She continued to work with Oklahoma Green Country Tours as a travel guide until 2008. Her love for dancing was evident throughout her life and continued until just recently as she would often attend the dances at the Cleveland Community Center. Kathy was extremely active in the community; helping others whenever she could. She was always available to assist in the Community Food Pantry and often assisted with the Ministerial Alliance efforts with the annual food basket distribution. She also assisted with the Meals-On-Wheels program, taking food to shut-ins. For many years, Kathy was an active member of the Business and Professional Womenís organization and served as an officer both locally and on the state level. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas and she truly enjoyed Christmas shopping even if she didnít buy anything. Her favorite past time, however, was spending time with her grandchildren. Kathy was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland. Kathy passed away on Friday, January 25, 2013 at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of ninety. In addition to her two husbands, Kathy was preceded in death by her mother, Sylvia Marie Clarkson; father, Frank R. Clarkson; and a great-granddaughter Ryleigh Ann Denny. Survivors are her two daughters, Sandra K. Brown of Pawnee, Oklahoma and Michelle D. Young of Cleveland, Oklahoma; two grandchildren Derek Brown of Pawnee and Rachelle Denny Bentley of Cleveland, Oklahoma; three great grandchildren Yolanda Kuhn, Kaycee L. Denny and Cody L. Bentley; and two great great grandchildren, Seth D. Kuhn and Wyatt L. Kuhn. Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the Western Heights Baptist Church with Rev. David Head officiating. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery.