Grace Mary-Rose Young, Benton, IL

Grace was born to William E. Young and Cathy A. Young in Mt. Vernon IL on August 15, 1994. She was such a loving, Christian woman. She attended Rescue Freewill Baptist Church in Whittington, IL. She loved listening to Christian music. Everytime she was in someone’s car, she would change the radio to her favorite Christian station and sing as loud as she could. Many people know Grace’s love for horses; two years ago, she finally got the horse that she has always wanted, and she named her “Faith”. She loved animals and she often brought stray animals home to care for them. She loved her dog named “Bubba” and her cat named “Duck”.

Grace cared so much for others. Her personality was breathtaking. She had the most loving, sweetest soul imaginable. Anyone who knew her could attest to this. She touched the lives of many with her strong faith in God, even throughout her battle with Glioblastoma. She always said her struggles were for a reason. She believed that God was using her to share her testimony of keeping faith, even in the darkest hours. Grace’s favorite bible verse was, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).

Grace was blessed with a large and loving family. She was the seventh child in a family of nine children. She was the youngest girl. Her family loved her so much and Grace knew that she had brought her family closer during her 3 years of battling cancer. Her family courageously fought alongside her. They were persistent that Grace would win this fight for her life. Even though it isn’t the outcome they had hoped her, Grace has not lost her long, brave battle. In fact, she is officially cancer free, dancing in the streets of gold, and she has ultimately won the battle. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Grace attended Ewing Grade School, and she was a 2012 graduate of Benton Consolidated High School. After high school, she attended Rend Lake College and earned a certificate as a CNA. She worked as a CNA, and then started working at Dixie Cream Donut Shop in West Frankfort, IL until her diagnosis.

Grace is survived by her parents, William and Cathy Young; her siblings Jason (Lindsey) Young, Heather Young, Jeremy (Miranda) Young, Sarah Jane (Kyle) McCollum, Megan (Jarad) Champlin, Jesse (Hannah) Young, Jake Young, Josh Young; her nieces and nephews, Morgan Young, Austin Young, Lane McCollum, Keaton McCollum, Dax McCollum, and Lyla Grace Champlin, all of Benton, IL; and many special uncles, aunts, cousins and cherished friends.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Glenn & Betty Young, and Luther & Mary Corey; her aunts, Jacqueline Corey and Donna Corey; her uncle, Russell Young; her cousin Molly Young; special family friend, Charles Boyer.

We will celebrate Grace’s beautiful Christian life with services at Whittington Baptist Church, with Brother Bryant Harris officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, from 4:00-8:00pm. Service will be on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 1:00pm. Graveside service will immediately follow at the Franklin Cemetery in Whittington. Cards and donations can be sent to Team Grace at PO Box 1181 Benton, IL 62812. These donations will be distributed to special people who are also fighting cancer.