Phyllis Straker Young

Phyllis Straker Young, age 89, of Tallahassee, passed away July 16, 2026. Born Phyllis Yvonne Straker on June 2, 1937 in Umatilla, Florida, she was the youngest of seven children of the late John George Straker and Ruth Owens Straker. She graduated from Umatilla High School in 1955, and attended Florida State University, where she met the love of her life. Phyllis married William S. (“Bill”) Young on April 5, 1958. They were married 40 years until his death in 1998. Phyllis (and Bill) joined Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Tallahassee in 1959, and were active members of the Burleigh Law Sunday School Class. She faithfully served in many roles at Saint Paul’s - working with children, youth, and adults over her 60-plus year membership. Phyllis and Bill started Gulf States Engineering Consultants in 1970, where they worked side by side for 20 years. She then worked at Florida State University, where she retired in 2004 as Office Manager of the Department of Meteorology. In her retirement years, she reconnected with her High School classmates, enjoyed many activities and trips with her Sunday School Class, often visited Beth and Glenn in Virginia, and traveled many times to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado with David and Brian, always hoping to see a bighorn sheep. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth Ferguson (Glenn) of Nathalie, Virginia, and David Young of Tallahassee; much-loved family friends Anne Marie Landrum and Brian Causseaux, along with numerous and dear nieces, nephews and their children. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill, as well as her six siblings. Phyllis’s family is so grateful for CoCo Fennell and Cathy Jones, who faithfully and lovingly cared for Mom for the past two and a half years, for the incredible nursing and caregiving staff of The Grove at Canopy, and the compassionate and caring team of Big Bend Hospice. Because of their loving kindness, the last years, months and days of her life were much sweeter, and we are so much richer for knowing each of them. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Big Bend Hospice or a charity of your choice. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2026 at Bevis Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be private. The service will be available to view live online at https://www.bevisfh.com. To watch, click on the word Obituaries at the top of the homepage, then click on the name of your loved one, and then the green Photos and Videos tab. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevisfh.com or 850-385-2193

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Phyllis Straker Young

June 2, 1937 - July 16, 2026