Raymond “Ray” Walter Young, Jr age 76, of Cheraw, South Carolina, peacefully passed away on Monday, June 23, 2025, at his home with his family by his side. Graveside services, accompanied by military honors, will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Grove Hill Cemetery, Darlington, SC officiated by Brent Taylor. The family will receive friends at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Born on October 18, 1948, in Florence, South Carolina, Ray was the son of the late Raymond Walter Young, Sr. and Mildred Jordan Young. He graduated from St. John’s High School in 1967 and earned a bachelor’s degree from The Citadel in 1971, later obtaining a master’s degree in business from Golden Gate University. Ray dedicated 26 years of service as an Employer Relations Manager with Weller Industries, a division of Cooper Tools, and served as an Executive Officer in the South Carolina National Guard, 133rd Military Police Company, Timmonsville, SC.
A member of First United Methodist Church of Cheraw, Ray had a profound love for studying God’s word, particularly biblical history. He was also a long-time member of The Rotary Club of Cheraw. An avid outdoorsman, Ray cherished his time gardening, well-known for his delicious tomatoes and maintaining an immaculate yard. Above all, he treasured moments spent with his family, especially his grandchildren, earning the title of proud “granddaddy.”
Ray is preceded in death by his parents and his beloved in-laws, Oby B. and Kathryn Garrison Lyles.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Kathryn Lyles Young; his children, Walt (Jen) Young of Charlotte, NC, Matthew (Kara) Young of Cape Girardeau, MO, and Justin (Cynthia) Young of Cheraw, SC; grandchildren, Kristyn Young of Rockingham, NC, Matthew Young, Jr. of St. Louis, MO, and Trenton Raymond Young of Cape Girardeau, MO; brothers Arthur Young, Tommy Young, and Dr. Ricky Young, all of Darlington, SC; nephew Garrison (Addie) Lyles of Greenville, SC; brother-in-law Oby (Debbie) Lyles of Greenville, SC; and sister-in-law Margaret Lyles of Darlington, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or to a charity of one’s choice.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Young family.