Patricia Jean Young

Patricia Jean Knespel Young, 87, of Emlenton, Richland Twp., Clarion County, passed away Wednesday morning, March 25, 2026 at The Collins House in Franklin.   

Born April 21,1938 in LaSalle, Colorado, Patricia was the daughter of the late Albert and Helen Sauter Knespel and the great granddaughter of Howard Abner Kerns, one of the original settlers of Weld County, Colorado.

She is survived by her husband, William J. Young, whom she married on January 17, 1975 in Greeley, Colorado. 

Patricia graduated in 1956 from Greeley High School in Greeley, Colorado and earned a LPN degree at the Clarion County Vo-Tech.

She worked as an LPN at Clarview Nursing Home in Sligo for 25 years before retiring. She was one of Clarion Walmart’s original hires and helped set up the store and worked part- time as a cashier for 6 years. Patricia and her husband also had a stand at the Clarion Farmers Market for over 20 years. 

Patricia was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarion and also The Clarion Bible Fellowship Church in Clarion.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Douglas A. Smith of Academy Texas, John A. Young of Oil City; three daughters, Kathryn R. Merchant of Longmont, Colorado, Kristine A. Alworth of Parker, and Marjorie Shannon (Jason) Buzard of Andover Ohio; her grandchildren, Thomas Merchant, Jeff Merchant, Stephanie Irwin, Taylor Alworth and his wife Emily, Dan Beebe, Ashley Evans and her husband Russ, Reannin Smith, Jeremiah Young, Emily Peretin, Liam Young, and Annalee Vanwormer; six great grandchildren; a sister, Mary (David) Drougemueller; a brother, John (Vicki) Knespel; a brother-in-law, Robert Young, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Karolyn "Jody" Lominski, a son, Jerry Smith, a brother, Joseph Knespel, a sister, Frances McCarthy, a son-in-law, Mark Alworth, and a grandson, George W Crum. 

Friends will be received at Clarion Bible Fellowship Church 22631 PA Rt. 68 Clarion, from 6 - 6:30pm Saturday. Members of the Oil Region Nurse Honor Guard will conduct a memorial service at 6:30 p.m. A funeral service will follow the memorial service with Rev. Gina Declair, church pastor, officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to The First United Methodist Church of Clarion Food Bank, 600 Wood St, Clarion, PA 16214. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hile Funeral Home Inc., Emlenton. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.

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