Laurie Leona Young celebrates her birthday Tuesday and what a wonderful life she is celebrating.

Laurie was born on May 6, 1914 in Worcester, MA moving to Philadelphia in her teens and graduated at the top of her class from Kensington High School for girls. She married Henry Young a Philadelphia native in 1935.

Laurie and Henry raised four children: Richard Young (deceased); Laurie Pierce living in San Jose, CA; Robert Young residing in Chocowinity with his wife Chris; and Ronald Young living in Saint James City, FL with his wife Mel.  Laurie is fortunate to have 12 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

After raising their children, Laurie joined the Wanamaker’s Department Store team as an interior decorator/custom drapery for many years in Philadelphia.  She and Henry retired and moved to Pine Island, FL where they invested and Laurie worked in custom interior design for Royal Flair, a furniture store, in Cape Coral.

After Henry’s passing in 1981, Laurie traveled extensively within the US, Canada, many countries in Europe, in South America, Australia and New Zealand.  Leaving Florida in her 80’s, she moved to Georgia for several years and then to Nevada near her daughter.  Missing the east coast, she moved to Emerald Isle, NC in 2004 and then to Little Washington in 2007 near her son.

Throughout her adult life, she was an avid gardener retiring her green thumb only in the last couple of years.  She is also a voracious reader and continues to enjoy her reading and word games of all types.  She claims it keeps her mind working as it should and helps keep her young.  The Young family is very blessed to be able to celebrate such a wonderful woman and her life accomplishments as she marks her 100th Birthday.