Elma Young (Gram)
1932-2022

Elma “Gram” Young was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and she faithfully followed her Lord Jesus Christ. She was born on June 10, 1932, to Hazel and Elmer Shortridge. She grew up with one sister, Pearl Pain. Later, in 1950, she married her beloved husband, Earl Young, and together they raised three sons: Carl, Dana, and Glen.

In addition, Elma loved working at the greenhouse side-by-side with her family and friends. Every year, people saw her smiling as she watered the many plants throughout all 14 greenhouses. Also, she always showed interest in others’ lives and enjoyed meeting new customers while chatting with regulars. When she stepped away from the greenhouses, she enjoyed sewing and making quilts for her family and friends. Furthermore, she loved canning and making jams, pickles, and frozen corn so she could provide wintertime provisions for her loved ones.

Although her life overflowed with joy, Elma also walked through many difficulties. For example, she faced her husband’s medical crisis in 1999 and again in 2001. During the latter event, she faithfully stayed by Earl’s side in the hospital every day for over three months. She even slept in the waiting room and sometimes stayed in his room.

As she recorded in her journal, Elma recognized that the end approached and saw the peace Earl carried. She sat on the bed beside him and whispered, “Yes, God is coming to get you and I can’t go. Someone has got to tell your family about Christ.” Then, she watched Earl smile and peacefully fall asleep. She felt peace as well and trusted that God would take him home.

At that time, Elma believed God still had work for her, yet she experienced a supernatural peace unlike anything she had known before. Elma also held Earl’s hand during his final hour on earth.

Afterward, she recorded her precious thoughts in her journal: “Earl went to be with the Lord. The race was run; Earl had won. Only memories and hope in Christ remained. That night in Earl’s room our daughter-in-law, Linda, accepted Christ as her Savior!”

Finally, the family held Earl’s service the following Sunday. Pastor Tim returned from Illinois and led the service. During the service, some people accepted Christ. The family recorded the service so Elma could keep it. Later, she visited Earl’s older sister the next month and sat down with her to watch the recording.

Earl’s older sister accepted Christ as her Savior! Soon after, Elma spoke with Earl’s brother-in-law, who had brain cancer, and he also confessed that he knew Christ as his Savior!

Later, in April, a group of Elma’s family and friends followed the Holy Spirit’s leading and began church meetings in each other’s homes. They looked forward to finding a pastor. Soon afterward, they welcomed a pastor, and the church began to grow. As a result, over 40 people accepted Christ as their Savior and chose baptism; over half of them had a connection to Earl!

Today, the church welcomes over 600 people! After more than 20 years of sowing and sacrificing, the church began a building project that will, Lord-willing, bring an even greater harvest of souls and provide care for the community and the church body.

Throughout her life, Elma treasured Psalm 92:13-14 as one of her favorite Bible passages: “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bear fruit in their old age.”

For Gram, this verse represented more than a saying to follow or words to memorize. She displayed its truth throughout her entire life. Even during her final days and breaths here on earth, her heart and mind remained focused on worshiping the Lord and loving friends, family, and neighbors who did not yet know His saving power. On May 3, 2022, Elma peacefully entered eternity with her loving family surrounding her. She now stands face-to-face with her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

As a reminder of her life’s purpose, C.T. Studd shared these words in an old poem: “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

In addition, Elma’s parents, her husband Earl Young, and her sister Pearl Pain went before her. She leaves behind her three children, Carl and Betty Young, Dana and Linda Young, Glen and Jackie Young; grandchildren, Pam Young, Sam Young, Danny Young, Tamsyn Frothingham, Amanda Cross, Benjamin Young, Gemma Young, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Finally, if you would like to watch Elma Young’s full celebration of life, click here.

At Young’s Greenhouse, our displays will change often and we pride ourselves in coming up with new displays to wow our visitors! GRAM created an idea of a new display in 2009 to take a tree, turn it upside down, and plant annuals into the roots of the tree (far left image). Over the years since, we have planted many of these tree displays filling them with petunias and ivy. They are big displays and will be enjoyed by many in the coming years. GRAM loved these tree displays!

Center image, GRAM waters plants in the greenhouses.

Far right image, another display of flowers. This one is a manure spreader from the farm that we stood upright and filled with petunias.