Donald Richard "Buck" Young

Donald R. "Buck" Young passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife Toni and family after battling metastatic melanoma, and we lost his indomitable spirit and zest for life. He was born on August 1 in Newark, Ohio to George and Florence Young, joining much older siblings Bill, Evelyn, and Eileen, who have all passed away.
Buck attended schools in Newark where he learned his life-long passion for basketball, baseball, and golf. He attended Baldwin Wallace, studying engineering on a basketball scholarship, going on to play semi-pro ball for a few years, and later was a referee in his spare time. Buck was passionate about the game and spent most of his life coaching and teaching kids of all ages how to perfect not only their shots and play their best; but always putting in life lessons to help shape them into responsible adults. He had an amazing generous heart and a very funny sense of humor. He served in the US Army as a combat engineer and was stationed in Korea after the war and while there he was asked to play in the Far East Basketball Games in Okinawa, a huge thrill for him.
Buck worked for Owens Corning in Newark, Ohio at their Fiberglas insulation plant for many years before transferring to the Science and Technology Center in Granville, Ohio as the purchasing manager in charge of chemicals, construction projects. When he retired he moved with his wife Toni to Montana to be closer to her family and play on Flathead Lake, Polson's beautiful golf course, ski in the mountains and just sit on his deck watching the beauty of this amazing place in Montana. He never forgot Ohio, making a few trips each year there, but his heart was truly awestruck by Montana. Buck spent countless hours volunteering for the Flathead Lake 3 on 3, the PHS Booster Club, Sunday open gyms, hand placing the original bricks at the PHS Sports Complex, at basketball, volleyball, track, and golf events, for Share the Spirit and all of the many volunteer organizations that Toni belongs to. He loved giving of his time and talents for the enjoyment of others, and supporting his community.
The family would like to thank the Nursing Staff of St. Joseph Hospital and Partners Hospice for their compassion and gentle loving care.
Zachary, Buck's son, passed away in March of this year the same week that Buck was diagnosed with the aggressive melanoma. He is survived by his wife Toni, stepdaughters Vanessa Hayward (Jeff) and Charity Reese (Austin) and granddaughter Nadia Reese, and by grandson Zachariah Young (Kim), kids Kyla, Talon and Caden, granddaughter Tessa Young Harris and children Carson and Addlynn as well as niece Joanne Bevacqua (Bob) and nephew Mike Young (Susie) and Toni's many siblings and their families.
A memorial service will be held Friday, January 3rd at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Polson with a lunch following. Please join us and share your memories. Memorials can be made to the Greater Polson Community Foundation, P.O. Box 314, Polson, for a scholarship in Buck's name.

Read Donald "Buck" Young's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.