Douglas Leonard Young passed away Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at the age of 77 in Pullman. He was born July 6, 1946, to Blanche and David Young. Raised on a ranch in Wallowa County, Ore., in a small home without electricity or indoor plumbing, he spent his youth learning to fish, hunt and appreciate the outdoors.
Doug graduated as valedictorian of Joseph High School and went on to obtain a degree in economics from the University of Oregon. Following that, he spent two years in Kenya, serving in the Peace Corps. From 1968 to 1970, he was part of the Division of Range Management, whose mission was to transform subsidence-oriented rangelands into more productive commercial grazing and ranching.
It was during his time with the Peace Corps that Doug would find the love of his life, Lillian. They met on a blind date arranged by friends on New Years Day, 1969. From that first meeting, on a street corner in Nairobi, their courtship was quick and decisive. They married in Lillian’s home-country, Norway, in 1970, and remained together for more than 50 years, until her passing in 2020.
During their life together, Doug went on to earn a Ph.D. from Oregon State University. It was while pursuing his Ph.D. studies, that an opportunity arose for him to spend 18 months in Brazil as a project economist for Oregon State’s weed-control research project. He eagerly accepted this challenge accompanied by his wife and their year-old son.
After graduating from OSU, Doug began a 32-year teaching and research career at Washington State University in agricultural economics until he retired in 2009. He had a passion for teaching and often took the time to mentor international graduate students.
Doug was an active member of the Pullman community and worshiped at Sacred Heart Church. He enjoyed hunting deer with his son Erik, backpacking with his family, crosscountry skiing, writing personal and family history, gardening, fly fishing and spending time with his grandchildren.
Doug is survived by his son, Erik, his daughter, Marit, and his grandchildren: Isaiah, Asher, Colton and Hazel. He is also survived by his sister, Donna.
Funeral services for Doug will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Corbeill Funeral Home, 905 S. Grand Ave., Pullman. There will be a private interment at Pullman Family Cemetery to follow. Corbeill Funeral Home of Pullman is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at corbeillfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Peace Corps at peacecorps.gov/donate/global-fund-spf-gbl.
