William Clayton "Bill" Young III

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – William Clayton “Bill” Young III, died unexpectedly on Monday, the 2nd of October 2023, in Brownsville, Texas.

Bill was born on December 5th, 1939, in Salesville, Texas, spent his toddler years in Mineral Wells, Texas, and moved to Weslaco, Texas in the early 50s where a deep freeze destroyed his father’s citrus grove. The family then relocated to Harlingen, Texas, where Bill attended elementary, middle, and high school.

Survivors include his loving wife of thirty-seven years, Patricia Cisneros Young; his daughter, Morgan Young Graham; his son, Clay Young IV; his beloved stepson and daughter-in-law, Noah and Misty Drumright; his best friend and son-in law, Joseph Graham; and his future son-in-law, John Eakin. He is blessed with seven grandchildren Emma, Sophia, Natalie Kate, Noah, Jr., and Jackson Drumright, Elizabeth Graham and Victoria Eakin; and one great-grandson, Dylan Drumright Arenas. He is blessed with his best friends of over seventy years, Doug Davis and John Bourg, and his beloved first cousin and wife, Ron and Miranna Peaden of Mineral Wells, Texas. His Young first cousins include Coranne Young, Lueron Erickson, and SallyBenn Thomas. His extended family includes his beloved cousins, JimBob and Toby Tomerlin, Marla Peaden and Karla Peaden Gaskill, and numerous other cousins in the Mineral Wells area. Preceding Bill in death were his parents, and his infant daughter, Patricia Day Young.

Bill was a true Renaissance man who could converse on any topic including football, baseball, Shakespeare, William Faulkner, Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Locatelli, Jazz, Blues, Texas Swing Music, June Christy, Bob Dylan, American History, Civil War history, Astronomy, film history and its stars, politics and more. After reading Jack Kerouac, he and his best buddy, Eddie Snow, rode a Triumph motorcycle from Harlingen to Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived for almost three years, supporting himself by working at a Brigham’s Ice Cream shop. On his return trip, and looking the worse for wear after driving his motorcycle back to Harlingen for hundreds of miles, he fondly remembers being run out of a Louisiana town by its Sheriff and asked never to return. However, he wrote an article about the incident in the Herald and, to his delight and surprise, received an apology and an invitation to return by the Louisiana city’s Chamber of Commerce.

He was an award-winning journalist who worked for The Brownsville Herald, The Port Isabel Press, KRGV and KGBT news, and worked for the City of Brownsville as its Public Information Officer for twenty-one years. As a guest lecturer in a Journalism class at The University of Texas at Brownsville, he would encourage the budding Journalists with, “You can’t know too much, so read and learn about everything!”

Bill made hundreds of good friends who delighted in his repartee and looked forward to conversing with him on anything and everything. He hated spicy food claiming, “Why would anyone want to eat food that hurts?” He was stoic and chided all of us with “Hey, when it quits hurting, it’ll feel good!” He was always ready with a good joke and possessed a rare sardonic wit.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, the 6th of October 2023 between the hours of nine o’clock and eleven o’clock in the morning, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at half past ten o'clock Friday morning within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at twelve noon on Friday, the 6th of October 2023 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville, officiated by Fr. Amador Garza. Following the mass, Pastor James Odabashian will deliver a brief eulogy and military honors will be rendered. A reception will follow within the Parish Hall at St. Mary, Mother of the Church. All services will conclude at the church.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers will be Dr. Eamon McGlynn, Doug Davis, Robert Ramirez, Noah Drumright, Clay Young, Eddie Perez, and Joseph Graham. Honorary pallbearers are Rick Diaz, David Merrill, Gloria Campos, and all the reporters and staff from KRGV and KGBT and The Brownsville Herald, and the City of Brownsville Staff whom Bill had the honor and pleasure to work with.

The family wants to thank Pastor James Odabashian for visiting Bill at the hospital and praying with him. It gave Bill a tremendous peace that helped him cope during his difficulties. Thanks to all the staff at Valley Regional Hospital who went above and beyond to help our Bill. We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to Dr. Eamon McGlynn, Dr. Carlos Barba, Dr. Todd Shenkenberg, and all the nurses and staff who assisted Bill during his final days on earth.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, donations may be made in memory of Bill to the Wounded Warriors Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), Tunnel to Towers Foundation (www.t2t.org), or to the National Rifle Association (www.nra.org).

Memories of Bill may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.