Ernest J. Young
January 13, 1940 - March 7, 2013
Obituary
BISHOP ERNEST JOHN YOUNG departed this life on March 7, 2013 surrounded by family. Bishop Young was born in Kirkland, WA to the union of Mattie Ophelia Davis and John Henry Young on January 13, 1940.
Bishop Young was the youngest of three children who has preceded him in death, John Winbush and June Mathis.
Drawn by his predestined calling, Bishop Young accepted Christ at the tender age of 7. He attended and graduated from Kirkland High School and continued his education at Seattle University where he studied music. Under the leadership of the late Bishop Morris located on 16th and Fir, Bishop Young fell deeply in Love with God and in playing music. Some of the family’s fondest memories are of him with his trumpet but soon thereafter his musical weapon of choice became the Hammond Organ. With all ten fingers locked in and his foot holding down the Bass, church would go on for hours (literally). Mastering every key a singer could possibly belt out and with that, taking his place as one of the greatest organist in Seattle. “He could make a Hammond B-3 walk” says his sister in law.
In 1960 Bishop Young married his needle in a hay stack, Alice April Hillard and with this dynamic union fathered 6 children. He and his family became members of Showers of Blessings where they faithfully served under the leadership of Pastor James Dorris for thirty (32) years. He served faithfully as Minister of Music, Deacon and a Prayer Warrior while also lending his personal time and multiple talents and his truck to whomever was in need. From painting your house to moving you to a new house, plumbing, carpentry, engine work, painting cars and even painting Bishop Drayton’s Church Bus. Yet, never allowing his family to lack, always providing not only for his wife and kids but often opening his home to whoever needed a place to live.
In February 1994 God called and ordained Bishop the Founder and Pastor of Rock Foundation Christian Center. He continued his walk now teaching and preaching the gospel while never compromising. He wrote down the vision and ran therein. His fruit can be seen through the birth of two ministries and the lives changed by the gospel he preached and the life he lived.
He leaves to mourn his wife Alice Young, 6 children: Glen and (Michele) Young, Vevala , Sonya, Karen, Tami and Christopher Young. 16 grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews and friends who rejoice in having shared their life with him.
God placed his servant on the wall for this hour. And even to end never wavering from his faith or from his family His vision was to “Gain Souls, Outreach ministry, Transitions Homes (Wings of Eagles), Missionary Support and Employment opportunity.
Though the body of our dear Bishop may now be at rest his vision will live on through the legacy he has created.
My DAD, I will miss you so so much. The ache in my heart in knowing you are not with us any longer, The unbelief in knowing I will not feel your arms hugging me or the feel of your head resting on my shoulders, this, plus more I can only now cherish in my heart and memories.
DAD, you were loved by multitudes upon multitudes of people, and because of this, you will never be forgotten.
We, the family, and your wife, our mom, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love, support, strength, protection, care, guidance, (the list goes on and on) you gave us throughout our lives.
GOD has welcomed another saint/son home to his arms of everlasting life.
LOVE you DAD
Sonya
I also called you dad. You were a Great man of God and a Great family man, who worked hard to take care of your family. You were blessed with many children and grandchildren and those you adopted as your children. You will be Greatly missed and never forgotten.
Love,
Brenda M.
Hello Pa, It’s George here. I really can’t believe that you aren’t with us anymore on this earth…it’s all so surreal. I have nothing to say about you but praise. Every single time that I was at your home, without exception, you greeted me with kindness and respect. I remember all too often you coming home from a long, long day’s work and instead of thinking of your own needs you would turn to me and say, “George…have you had enough to eat….are you comfortable…..how’s your family….how was the trip down and so on and so on….”. You always welcomed me with arms wide open. I never saw you in a snarly mood. I never saw you being disrespectful to anybody. You were a great provider for your family….you were sensitive and honorable and loving. You were a credit to all fathers and men every. You did what was right and what was honorable before the LORD. Your love for HIM compelled you to minister to all. In fact, you ministered long before you became a Pastor. You ministered to me many times out of an AGAPE love. I also remember you emailing me and staying in contact up until your computer crashed. I still have those emails and will cherish them as I cherish your memories. There is so much more that I want to say, but won’t say it here. You were an awesome Father in law, just as your wife was an awesome Mother in law. I only wish that I had visited you the last time you invited me. That would be one of my regrets that I will have to live with. You have shed your mortal coil and you are now in the Arms of our Loving LORD……as Paul the Apostle said,…..”Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to Face!” Now my Dear Pa….you are indeed face to Face with our LORD! I envy you, but one day, as the song says…..”When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be….when we all see JESUS we will sing and shout the victory!” Thanks Pa for everything you did for me and my family……
Much, much love….
George
Dearest Brother John,
I look at the photograph of you above and I cry because the reality of your passing hits hard. I see your daughter Sonya in you. I remember you with a big warm welcoming smile on your face and that sparkle in your eyes. You, and your dear wife, were always so kind and welcoming to our family. When we lost mom, I remember you came and offered your tangible support during our families time of great loss and grief. I will always remember the comfort I drew from the strength and bond of seeing you two walk into the service we had in her honour. Now, you have joined her, and the two of you look over us from a far. You are in the realm of all seeing, all knowing, all forgiving LOVE, and we are left to pick up the pieces of life without you. You were a good, caring, kind man – with a quiet strength, who mentored the Love of our heavenly Father through your open heart and forgiving nature. You are home and I am sure the Heaven’s rang out to welcome you to the presence of our loving Living Savior to dance around His throne and sing His praises. You were a gifted AND anointed musician and you and Sister Alice made a one of a kind team – her singing, and your playing, and the home, life and ministry that you created together. I pray for her at this time of enormous loss, and for all of your family. Our loss is heaven’s gain. You have traded the sting and burden of this life for your just do rewards, but for those left behind who mourn the loss of such a fine man, the sting is strong. Oh glory to the day when we all can say, “Death where is thy sting and grave where is the victory”.
Love,
Hope