Delores Young

Delores Young
"Simply Beautiful"
Born: March 30, 1925
Present with the Lord: April 4, 2017

A Full Life

Delores was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the first born of twins to James Douglas Jones and Lottie Mae Penney Jones, and the seventh of eight living children, from a total of thirteen children born to James and Lottie.

Delores Jones was the seventh graduate of her siblings from East High school in 1944, unfortunately, she was not accompanied by her twin brother, Delbert Jones, because he was called into service for our country in 1943.

Delores was married twice, first to Victor Lee Blakely, they resided in Des Moines, Iowa. She gave birth to two sons, Victor Lee Blakely Jr (deceased 1996) and James Thomas Blakely (deceased 1999).

The second marriage was to Merle Augustus Young, they resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She gave birth to one son, Cortez Augustus Young, and adopted one daughter, the desire of her heart and the apple of her eye, Ivy Marie Young Morrow, thereby, completing her family.

Delores was active in church, she attended: Corinthian Baptist (IA), Zion Baptist (MN), Kingsway Cathedral (IA), Crenshaw Christian Center (CA). Her Christian faith was very important to her, she trained-up all her children in the way they should go and lived an exemplary life.

Delores worked at Honeywell in Minnesota and then at the Des Moines Register newspaper in Iowa. She retired at 60 years old and moved to Los Angeles, California to be closer to her sons, Cortez and James. She resided with her son, Cortez, until her passing.

While living in California Delores attended Los Angeles City College and took courses in child development, she loved children! She enjoyed babysitting for several children and extended family members Logan Riley and Brandi Fairfax. She also had a very close relationship with her goddaughters Jazmen and Brandi Fairfax.

Delores' kitchen was known as "mama's kitchen" by many friends because she enjoyed cooking and hosting dinners. Delores loved California and developed close relationships with people of all ethnicities, and they became extended family members. She was very kind and loving.

Delores is survived by her daughter Ivy Morrow and son, Cortez Young, a twin sibling, Delbert Jones, five Grandchildren: DeShawn Tart and family, Shannon Logan and family, Chezron Ford and family, Alex Morrow, Vanessa Cruz, several great-grandchildren, stepchildren: Steven Young, Ingrid Young and Harry Blakely, a large extended family, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Delores also leaves behind close friends, Rebecca King and Viola Jackson, as well as families that are like blood relatives: Warren, Logan, King, Johnson, Lewis, Saunders, Massey, Renfro, Fairfax, Stevens, Jackson, Carranza, Bonilla, Castellanos, Price, Leyva, Diaz, Vasquez, Chavez, Espinoza, Ruiz, Giraldo, etc. There were so many she loved and that loved her.

Delores is in the presence of the Lord, her parents and all her siblings who have passed on: Clementine Jones, Geraldine Draffen, Hubert Jones, Eujetta Fisher, Goldie Flipping, Nellie Morrow and Lorraine Harris. She is probably encouraging her twin brother, Delbert, from heaven to continue the good fight of faith and enjoy living long and strong until it's his time to join the family in heaven.

Fortunately, Delores was very healthy and never suffered from any ailments nor burdened with long-term medications throughout her life. Unfortunately, she was challenged with late onset dementia at 89 which caused slow, progressive memory loss in her later years. Her sudden cause of death was "natural" and seems to have been heart related.

Delores will be sorely missed, words cannot express the impact of her loss, nor the sorrow and grief to her friends and family. However, her family is grateful she lived as long as she did, 92, it was definitely a full life! Praise God!

Ps 90:10
"The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away."




Mom was young at heart. She always enjoyed good music, a good joke, and young people, especially children. She was kind and gentle, but could be a force to be reckon with if the need arose. I love her laugh and smile, and her beautiful hair. Her wisdom and common sense has carried me to adulthood and continues to be an anchor in my daily life. My mother was loving and gave her greatest love to her children. There was nothing she wouldn't do or give us if it was within her power. She did all she could to protect and guide us, sacrificing a lot. I know she is in a wonderful place, and someday I will see her again, but for now when I hear a good joke or good music, or see children laughing and playing, I will smile and lovingly think of her. She was simply beautiful!
- Ivy

Dear Mom,
There aren't words that can express my loss, it's a void that only time, prayer, silence and tears can "soothe." A huge part of me was silenced with sadness when you passed, but I take comfort in knowing a huge part of you lives on in me…simply beautiful.

From childhood, I've always felt it was my duty to be your protector and "provider", because I watched you live a selfless life, protecting and providing for your family and others, and never complaining, only praying. You lived an exemplary life… simply beautiful.

To say I miss you isn't enough, the warmth of your hugs and the softness of your kisses aren't replaceable, so I will always be looking for and expecting them. The sound of your voice, your scent, and the way you looked at me are etched in my mind. You were the perfect mother for me and I loved EVERYTHING about you, you were…simply beautiful.

Even though the challenges you endured in the end were frustrating and burdensome, you were NEVER a burden to me, it was MY PLEASURE to care for you all these years, and I would gladly do it again. It's selfish to say, but 92 years was not long enough, but living that long was…simply beautiful.

My love, I will honor you by honoring God and His word. You are my big baby and my heart, and you always will be. You are…simply beautiful.
-Cortez