Carol Young

CAROL H. YOUNG, 62, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 30, 2022. A resident of Grand Prairie, TX, Carol was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, Africa (known today as Zimbabwe) to the parentage of Gerardus Van Sleeuwen and Rose Johnson-Van Sleeuwen. Carol ecstatically moved to the United States in 1980, with her first husband, Keith Henderson, a military man whom she met in Zimbabwe. They settled in Dallas, Texas, and had two children (Candice and Kyle). Carol later met her second husband, Ronald A. Young, a machinist and former military man. He too, had two children (Richard and Derrick), eventually all moving in together. Carol’s mother, Rose, moved to the United States in 1987 and moved in with them, growing their nuclear family. Carol was a thirteen-year Dallas resident before living in Midlothian, Gun Barrell City, Arlington, then finally Grand Prairie.

Carol graduated from Dominican Convent High School, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She worked at a haberdashery in Zimbabwe, Africa, where she also attended and graduated from a secretarial college. When Carol moved to the U.S., she stayed home and cared for her children, and tended the home before going to work at Standard Manufacturing in Dallas. Carol worked at Standard as a secretary for over a decade while taking extensive piano lessons at Mountain View College in Dallas, Texas before pursuing her career as a nurse. Carol graduated from Dallas County Community College-El Centro in 1997 with her associates degree in Nursing, and immediately went into the medical field full-time. Carol interned, and worked, at an array of hospitals from Arlington to Dallas, to Fort Worth, and Athens, caring for and healing the sick and wounded for twenty-seven years. Carol Young cared for infants, the elderly, Army vets, and anyone else in pain who needed Carol’s medical and spiritual healing. While caring for the injured and saving lives, Carol was also co-owner of Main Street Bar and Grill in Gun Barrell City, Texas, with her husband Ron. Countless hours were spent by her husband’s side, operating and running the establishment, and sometimes just being a fun and free-spirited support for her husband and their favorite customers. Carol later returned to nursing school, where she received a B.S.N. from Grand Canyon University, while still employed full-time as a nurse at the Dallas V.A. Medical Center. Carol loved her “hospital family” and had fun with her fellow co-workers while tending to the ill. She was loved equally by the other nurses and doctors. Carol cared for her terminally ill husband Ron, while still working full-time at the hospital. Ron passed away at the V.A. Medical Center of Dallas, the same hospital where Carol worked. Ultimately, Carol passed away 17 months later at Medical City of Arlington, the same hospital where she was first employed ever as a nurse.

Carol was known for dancing, singing, laughing, cooking, and being extremely social. Carol enjoyed traveling, small planting and gardening, watching cooking shows, grilling out with family and friends, attending concerts, ordering pizza, and playing with her yorkie “Suga” nonstop. In the past, Carol was also seen fishing and camping out with her family and friends, riding on the back of motorcycles with her husband Ron, and even bowling on leagues with her husband and other couples; with their names making it to the National Bowling Registry online.

During motherhood, Carol was very active in all of her children’s school activities, extra-curricular activities, after school sports, and so much more. Carol attended Christmas programs, cinco de mayo dances, awards day assemblies, field day, science fairs, football games, basketball games, and music and band recitals. Carol has even been a ticket-taker at one of her son’s football games and worked in the concession stands. Carol made it a point to meet most of her children’s teachers, attending parent-teacher night and other school events, including high school and college graduations, and induction ceremonies.
Most of Carol’s work with the church went unnoticed, as she was occupied spreading the word of the Lord. Carol was very active in church. She was raised Catholic while growing up in Zimbabwe, before converting to the Methodist denomination. She attended many churches throughout her life, prayed faithfully, read her bible, walked the avenues with other church members, and had been a part of worship services inside many homes.

Carol was preceded in death by both of her loving ex-husbands, Ronald “Ron” Young of Tyler, Texas and Keith Henderson of San Antonio, Texas. Carol was also preceded in death by her loving mother, Rose “Rosie” Van Sleeuwen of Arlington, Texas, sisters Elizabeth Johnson, Agnes Johnson, and Ann Johnson, all of Zimbabwe, Africa, and nephew Kingdom “King” H. Matthews of South Africa.
Carol leaves behind four wonderful children, Candice Young of Grand Prairie, Texas, Kyle Young of Grand Prairie, Texas, Richard D. Young of Irving, Texas, and Derrick A. Young (Angelina) of Waxahachie, Texas. Carol also leaves behind her loving nephew Francis X. Johnson (Ana) of Lewisville, Texas, grandchildren (Preston, Maribell, and Annabella) and great nephew (Alex), and a host of other family members and loving in-laws throughout Zimbabwe, Africa, Texas, Virginia, Colorado, and Kentucky.
Carol’s motto was “Don’t take life for granted,” in which she instilled that motto in all her children. Her daughter, Candice, a two-time college graduate and former National Guard Reserve, is near the completion of her own nursing internship, following in her mother’s footsteps. Her son, Kyle, a long-time warehouse worker, initiated studies to become a pharmacist. (Step)Son Richard, also a two-time college graduate, school teacher and realtor, who is also certified to teach Health and serves on a Health and Wellness committee, certified in CPR/First Aid; and had the same Biology professor as Carol at Mountain View College. (Step)Son Derrick, a college graduate, police officer and security guard, and former National Guard Reserve, and certified in CPR/First Aid. And Carol’s nephew, Francis, who too moved to Texas from Zimbabwe, also attended Mountain View College before graduating from El Centro College, just as his aunt Carol.

Carol’s organs were donated, to pass on the miracle of life to those less fortunate.

Viewing will begin at 11:00am held at Blessing Colonial Chapel on Saturday, May 7, 2022, followed by service at 1:00pm, with burial immediately following at Calvary Cemetery where Carol will be laid to rest next to her mother.

Carol is gone too soon from this earth, living now in peace with the Lord. She will remain in our hearts forever.

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