Ross Louis Young

Ross Louis Young, the sergeant at arms of the state House of Representatives from 1974 to 1992, died March 7, 2014, at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. He was 84 years old and was a resident of the Olympia area for the past 44 years. Ross was born April 29, 1929, in Cle Elum, Washington, to Ralph C. “Brig” Young and Mona (Lyndes) Young. He attended primary school in South Cle Elum and high school in Ellensburg, where he met his wife-to-be, Mary Kryger, when he was a sophomore in high school and she was a senior. After graduating from Ellensburg High School in 1947 and attending Central Washington University, Ross joined the Air Force in 1949. He and Mary were married Oct. 4, 1951, in New Orleans, and he left the next year for his first overseas assignment, as a radar specialist, at Birkenfeld Air Force Base in Germany. Mary and their first child later joined him there. After several postings, including Iceland and many bases throughout the South, Ross retired from the Air Force in 1969 as a senior master sergeant. Ross, Mary and their seven children returned to Cle Elum. After working at various positions at the Capitol, including as a map drawer for the House Democratic majority redistricting staff, Ross was selected sergeant at arms in November 1974 and moved his family to Olympia. He served 18 years in that position, retiring in 1992. He immediately devoted his efforts to the Sign Shop, a business he, members of his family and his business partner, Joni Merten, ran from Ross and Mary’s home near Tumwater. The Sign Shop printed all manner of signs for local, state and national political campaigns. Ross was a Democrat in his political affiliation and a democrat in his personal temperament. He was exceedingly fair in his engagements with people, even-tempered with even the most ill-tempered, and overlooked people’s shortcomings so he could focus on their talents. He saw life as a series of problems that could be surmounted. He loved his family. Ross is survived by Mary, his wife of 62 years; children, Mona, Jim, Maryka, Teresa, Patrica, Tom and Catherine; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, you can donate to Habitat for Humanity. Please leave memories of Ross or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.