Mavis Lorene (Simler) Young, 92, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Wednesday (January 7, 2015) at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.

Mavis was born August 8, 1922 in Adair County, at Simlerville, Missouri, the daughter of Arthur Holland and Gracia Ella (Waddill) Simler. On September 26, 1942 in Clayton, Missouri, Mavis was united in marriage to Samuel Milton Young and to this union two children were born.

Mavis is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol Jean and Abdon Navarro of Kirksville, MO; her daughter-in-law, Hoa T. Young, of Scottsdale, AZ, five grandchildren: Kim Young Catalanotto and husband Matthew, of Queen Creek, AZ, Dr. Lisa Young LaCara and husband Anthony, of Chicago, IL, Natalie Bradshaw Adam and husband Michael, of Agadir, Morocco, Emily Bradshaw Castillo and husband David of Issaquah, WA, Robert Bradshaw and wife Katrina of San Luis Obispo, CA, one sister, Neva Jean Simler Barnhill, of Conroe, TX, one brother, Keith Simler of Kirksville, MO, five great-grandchildren, Casey and Ryan Catalanotto, Caleb and Joshua Adam, and Samuel Castillo, and eight beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Samuel Milton Young on April 10, 1978, one son, Dr. Samuel Milton Young, Jr. on February 19, 2009, one sister, Margie Simler Wood, one brother, Darrell Simler, two nieces and two nephews.

Mavis was Past Noble Grand of the Little Queen Rebekah Lodge #164 of LaGrange, MO, and Past Noble Grand of Anchor Rebekah Lodge #44, of Kirksville, MO, Past President of Ladies Auxiliary Patriarch Militant Ridgley #8 of Hannibal, MO. She received the Declaration of Chivalry at Excelsior Springs, MO, in 1970. She was active in the LaGrange School, serving as Band Booster President, Secretary of PTA and Room Mother. She was also a member of Planned Progress.

Mavis attended the Mount Zion rural school and graduated from Kirksville Senior High School in 1941.

Mavis and her husband operated the Lunch Hour Café in Kirksville, and later, the Lunch Hour Café in Hannibal. The relocated to LaGrange in 1947, and owned and operated the Mavis Café and Sam’s Pool Hall. She and her husband sponsored a girl’s softball team, on which Mavis played for many years.

Mavis accepted Christ and was baptized in 1958 in the Christian Church of LaGrange of LaGrange, MO. She sponsored the Teenage Christian Believers class there. After moving to Kirksville, she moved her membership to Meadow Brook Christian Church.

Public visitation will be held Sunday (January 11, 2015) with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday (January 12, 2015) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home with Pastor Kenneth Ballard and Pastor Richard Lawrence officiating. Interment will follow the service at Union Temple Cemetery, southwest of Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Mark Simler, Paul Simler, Wesley Simler, Arthur Simler, Nathan Simler and Leo Leon.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mavis Young may be made to Union Temple Cemetery or to Meadow Brook Christian Church. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.