Obituary for Jim Young
Jim Young, age 77, of Muleshoe, Texas, died Monday, July 4, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. He was born July 25, 1944 in Muleshoe.
Jim was a life-long resident of Muleshoe and a member of the First Baptist Church. He was raised on the family farm in the Needmore area. His parents passed when he was a young boy and he spent the remaining years of high school being raised by his big brother, John. Growing up, Jim was a great athlete, excelling in football, basketball and track. In 2020, the Muleshoe Journal Newspaper ranked the all-time greatest Muleshoe football players in the last 60 years. Jim came in at #20 on that list. After graduating in 1962 from MHS, Jim attended Texas Tech University on a football scholarship. After his Freshman year, he transferred to West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas where he played for legendary coach Joe Kerbel. Jim started all 3 years as a defensive back for the Buffs. When his playing time was done, Jim stayed on the coaching staff under Kerbel and coached the Freshman team for 1 year. In 1964, Jim met Terry Nelson. They got married on June 14, 1966 in Canyon and had 2 sons. Jim realized his true calling in life and moved back to Muleshoe in 1967 to help his brother John run the family farm.
Jim was an excellent farmer, having won many awards from several agricultural organizations. At one time, Jim was farming over 4,000 acres south of Muleshoe raising mostly cotton, corn and milo. From 1979 until 1983, Jim was co-owner of the Case tractor dealership in Muleshoe. In 1983, he purchased 10 bred cows in Thedford, Nebraska and hauled them back to Muleshoe and started the Diamond Y Cattle Company. By 2000, the herd had grown to over 250 head and Diamond Y was a full cattle operation consisting of mainly registered Limousin cows and bulls. Jim was the president of the Texas Limousin Association and was also a board member of the North American Limousin Foundation. Jim loved to attend auctions, stock shows and any meeting associated with his cattle business. Jim loved life, his friends, watching football and mostly, his family, and of course, Elvis! He was always up for a good time and loved to make people laugh. One of the things Jim was famous for was his ability to grab any available microphone, no matter the occasion, and sing Luckenbach, TX. Whether he was a good singer or not is a highly debated topic amongst his friends. In the early 1960’s, he earned the nickname “Muleshoe Moaner” from Dory Funk, Sr. after Jim sang songs on Dory’s weekly televised wrestling show in Amarillo. From there, a “star” was born. For decades, Jim hosted many successful pheasant hunts for all of his old buddies and their kids. “Hunting” is a loose term and the percentage of actual hunting that was done is still a mystery.
He adored his grandchildren and was very involved in their upbringing. His family loved him beyond measure and he will be greatly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Jim is survived by his wife, Terry; his two sons, Greg Young of Muleshoe, Texas and Chris Young and his wife, Allison of Spring Branch, Texas; his sister, Sue Young Rodgers of Lubbock, Texas; his brother, John Young and his wife, Marilyn of Muleshoe, Texas; and his six grandchildren, Kennedy Young, Cameron Young, Cambridge Young, McCall Young, McKenna Williams and Harper Young.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Muleshoe Memorial Park, PO Box 373, Muleshoe, Texas, 79347 or Muleshoe Meals on Wheels, 300 South 1st Street, Suite 110, Muleshoe, Texas, 79347.
Jim was a life-long resident of Muleshoe and a member of the First Baptist Church. He was raised on the family farm in the Needmore area. His parents passed when he was a young boy and he spent the remaining years of high school being raised by his big brother, John. Growing up, Jim was a great athlete, excelling in football, basketball and track. In 2020, the Muleshoe Journal Newspaper ranked the all-time greatest Muleshoe football players in the last 60 years. Jim came in at #20 on that list. After graduating in 1962 from MHS, Jim attended Texas Tech University on a football scholarship. After his Freshman year, he transferred to West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas where he played for legendary coach Joe Kerbel. Jim started all 3 years as a defensive back for the Buffs. When his playing time was done, Jim stayed on the coaching staff under Kerbel and coached the Freshman team for 1 year. In 1964, Jim met Terry Nelson. They got married on June 14, 1966 in Canyon and had 2 sons. Jim realized his true calling in life and moved back to Muleshoe in 1967 to help his brother John run the family farm.
Jim was an excellent farmer, having won many awards from several agricultural organizations. At one time, Jim was farming over 4,000 acres south of Muleshoe raising mostly cotton, corn and milo. From 1979 until 1983, Jim was co-owner of the Case tractor dealership in Muleshoe. In 1983, he purchased 10 bred cows in Thedford, Nebraska and hauled them back to Muleshoe and started the Diamond Y Cattle Company. By 2000, the herd had grown to over 250 head and Diamond Y was a full cattle operation consisting of mainly registered Limousin cows and bulls. Jim was the president of the Texas Limousin Association and was also a board member of the North American Limousin Foundation. Jim loved to attend auctions, stock shows and any meeting associated with his cattle business. Jim loved life, his friends, watching football and mostly, his family, and of course, Elvis! He was always up for a good time and loved to make people laugh. One of the things Jim was famous for was his ability to grab any available microphone, no matter the occasion, and sing Luckenbach, TX. Whether he was a good singer or not is a highly debated topic amongst his friends. In the early 1960’s, he earned the nickname “Muleshoe Moaner” from Dory Funk, Sr. after Jim sang songs on Dory’s weekly televised wrestling show in Amarillo. From there, a “star” was born. For decades, Jim hosted many successful pheasant hunts for all of his old buddies and their kids. “Hunting” is a loose term and the percentage of actual hunting that was done is still a mystery.
He adored his grandchildren and was very involved in their upbringing. His family loved him beyond measure and he will be greatly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Jim is survived by his wife, Terry; his two sons, Greg Young of Muleshoe, Texas and Chris Young and his wife, Allison of Spring Branch, Texas; his sister, Sue Young Rodgers of Lubbock, Texas; his brother, John Young and his wife, Marilyn of Muleshoe, Texas; and his six grandchildren, Kennedy Young, Cameron Young, Cambridge Young, McCall Young, McKenna Williams and Harper Young.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Muleshoe Memorial Park, PO Box 373, Muleshoe, Texas, 79347 or Muleshoe Meals on Wheels, 300 South 1st Street, Suite 110, Muleshoe, Texas, 79347.