Lawrence George Young, X’ajaawsa, Subdeacon Laurenti
Services have been scheduled at St. Michael’s Cathedral for Lawrence George Young, X’ajaawsa, Subdeacon Laurenti.
A memorial service will be held 6 p.m. Thursday with the funeral 11 a.m. Friday, and burial 10 a.m. Monday.
George died Dec. 6 at South Peninsula Hospital long-term care facility in Homer, at the age of 79.
He was born in Sitka on June 6, 1942, the son of Thomas and Charlotte (Littlefield) Young. His Tlingit name was X’ajaawsa and he was Kaagwaataan from the Box House in Sitka. He was a child of the Ghaanaxhteidi clan, and his paternal grandfather was from the Shangukeidi clan, making him a grandchild of the Thunderbird clan.
He attended school in Lodge Grass, Montana, and served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, from June 1967 to July1973.
He was tonsured a Reader after attending St. Herman Theological Seminary in Kodiak. He was later ordained to the diaconate as Subdeacon Laurenti.
He started his life as a fisherman with his dad on the Helen H. He also worked on state ferries – in the 1980s he was on the first ferry that docked at the new Bellingham, Washington, terminal, and was one of two Natives who steered the vessels – and was in security and housekeeping at SEARHC.
He married Marie E. Sam on Oct. 31, 1987, at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
He loved meeting people, and visited with tourists at St. Michael’s during the season. He loved his church – and enjoyed passing along its history.
George was preceded in death by siblings Thomas Young Jr., Evelyn Arriola, Marilyn May Carlson, Henry Young and Smitty Katzeek.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Young, of Sitka; son Lawrence Young (Jessica) of Anchorage; Mark Young of Cordova, Kevin Young of Sitka, and Patricia Young of Sitka; and grandchildren Ava Young, Jade Young, River Young-Teas, Audrina,Avery, and Jeremiah.
Also surviving are his sister, Alfreda Lang of Sitka, and brothers Ed Young (Nancy Douglas) of Sitka, and Jim Young, Sitka; and uncle Sergei Kan.
Pallbearers will be Lawrence Young, Michael Lang Jr., Mark Young, Kevin Young, Mitchell Young, Jeffery Young and Patricia Young.
Honorary pallbearers are George Bennett Sr., Thomas Young Jr., Herman Davis, Chuck Miller, Dave Sam, Bob Sam, Fred Sam, Eric Drake, Pat Littlefield and Marty Martin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Michael’s Cathedral.
