Obituary of Carl Young

Carl H. Young III died on Saturday, August 25th of injuries sustained from a horseback riding accident. Carl was a lover of life with a relentless adventurous spirit. The world was his audience and he was the entertainer. He had an uncanny ability to draw people in and connect with them on a very personal level, whether they were lifelong friends, new acquaintances or complete strangers. He indescribably seemed like the youngest person in the room even if he was among children. Carl was born on September 14, 1941 in Great Bend, KS to Carl H. Young Jr. and Aline Collinsworth Young. His father was an oilman for Helmerich & Payne who moved the family often, which necessitated the need for the young Carl to meet friends quickly, as he famously said "I never knew if I would see them the next day." They ultimately settled in Tulsa, OK, where Carl graduated from Central High School. He attended college at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and was originally preparing to study at Perkins School of Theology until he decided instead to pursue a career in law. During the summer between college and law school, Carl worked on oil rigs in Archer City, TX, where he met his life-long partner and best friend Karen Lee Barton. They were married on December 20, 1964. He graduated from law school at the University of Tulsa. Carl had an illustrious career that included leadership roles at Helmerich & Payne, Purolator Products, Grimes Aerospace, Anchor Glass, and ultimately Bridge Associates. He officially retired on December 31, 2010. During both his career and retirement, he remained a very active member of his community, serving on various boards and in leadership positions including the Tulsa Metropolitan Planning Commission, the Port Authority, and the Park Board. The charities he supported included 12 & 12, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Family and Children's Services, First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa (where he served as a deacon), Boy Scout Troop 1, and the Advisory Board for the University of Tulsa School of Law. He more recently was also involved in organizations that reflected his interests and his passion for the arts, particularly the Tulsa Ballet, the Glass Blowing Studio, and the Crested Butte Music Festival. Carl and Karen were starting the latest chapter of their life that included traveling with family, a volunteer schedule that rivaled that of many workaholics and spending countless hours of quality time with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed his summers in Crested Butte, where he had just summited the peak of Mt Crested Butte for the 20th time. His death came as a surprise to those that knew him best because he was as healthy, active and energetic as ever. He will be missed by many, but there's comfort knowing that he died doing what he loved in his favorite place on earth. Carl is survived by his wife, Karen; a son John and his wife Nicole of Tulsa; a daughter Elizabeth Oliphint and her husband Kyle of Fort Worth, TX; three siblings, Douglas Young of Tulsa, Suzzanne Stark of Monroe, CT, and Mary Ellen Kushnir of Houston, TX; six grandchildren, Jack, Matthew, and Heidi Young; Katherine, Caroline, and Kelly Oliphint; and two beloved Shi Tzus, Oreo and Walter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to one of the many charities Carl supported. Arrangements are being handled by Ninde funeral home.