Laura Melissa (Jones) Young

Laura Melissa Jones Young was born to Etta Eileen Black Jones and Charlie W. Jones on Friday, July 31, 1936 in Amherst, Texas. She was the 5th of 6 children.  Laura died Sunday, January 2, 2022 in Springdale, Arkansas, her youngest son, James, by her side.  She was 85 years, 5 months, 2 days old when she breathed her last.

Growing up working in the cotton fields of West Texas, Laura learned the value of hard work, dedication and loyalty to her family and the importance of respecting the inherent value others—all traits that she not only taught, but also demonstrated, to her own children and grandchildren.

A 1954 graduate of Amherst High School, Laura was served as editor  of the yearbook and participated in numerous other student activities.  Laura’s HS class recognized her for her “consideration of others”—a characteristic that she demonstrated throughout her life.

After a short stint at Wayland Baptist College, Laura moved to Dallas and graduated from Isabell’s Beauty College, becoming both a hairdresser and a teacher of Cosmetology.  While at Isabell’s, Laura met a student named Lee, with whom, at first, she was generally unimpressed, but later married.  Lee and Laura were married at the First Baptist Church of Amherst on May 3, 1959, a marriage lasting until Lee’s death in June of 1980.

After being told she could not have children, Laura set about proving the doctors wrong and bore three sons, John Stacy in 1960, Jason Scott in 1965 and James Stanley in 1966.  This type of prayerful perseverance, courage to move forward in the face of adversity and strength to do so defined the core of who Laura was and helped to shape the lives of not only her boys, but hundreds of others including family members, students, Sunday school friends and anyone else who spent time with her.

If perseverance, courage, dedication, strength were the core of her character, she demonstrated these characteristics in her love for others, the generosity she showered on those around her, the kindness she showed to others and her spirit of nurturing and compassion for others

Laura never quite ‘retired’ from working ‘behind the chair’ doing what she loved, she did ‘slow down’ as she called it, after reaching the 50- year milestone as a cosmetologist, an accomplishment of which she was extremely proud.

Laura was fiercely dedicated to her sons, nurturing and loving them through many grand times and accomplishments and loving even more when the times were more difficult. Although she loved her sons unconditionally,  she was quick to side with her daughters-in-law, Tammy and Tracy, on any question about which there was disagreement. She was dedicated more fiercely only to her 6 grandchildren: Justin Lee, Johnathan Spencer, Katelyn Noel , Lauren Elizabeth, Laura Lee and Jacob ‘Jake’ Scott.  She loved being with them, sharing her nurturing, loving and kind spirit with each in her own way, somehow knowing the message of love and faith that would resonate with each.  Her four great-grandkids, Brecken, Ava Joy, Judah and Josie were a joy to her and made her smile.

Laura was dedicated to her church and loved her friends there with an unfailing love that only she could demonstrate so often, so fully so genuinely. She loved teaching her Sunday school class, often calling one of her boys on Saturday night just to see if she had the lesson “right”; she almost always did.  Her loving touch will be missed at every reception, ladies’ tea, senior breakfast and every other church gathering at which she could use her “good dishes” and make others feel loved, important and cared for.

Laura’s life demonstrated the love, kindness, generosity, compassion, faithfulness, gentleness and loyal dedication that was an example to all who knew her.  While she is now serving tea and cookies in heaven, her legacy inspires us all to strive to a life more like hers.

Graveside services will be at Redman Cemetery, De Queen Ark. Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 2:00 pm.  Under the direction of Latimer Funeral Home in Nashville.