Mary Lou Young, of Vero Beach, Fla., formerly of Rye, passed away on Dec. 7, 2025, at the age of 96.
Born in Lockport, N.Y., on June 28, 1929, to Marjorie (Crossman) and Russell Hurlburt, Mary Lou was raised in Wilson, N.Y. She graduated from the Knox School in 1947 and graduated from Syracuse University in 1951.
In 1952, Mary Lou married H. Edward Patterson. Over the years, they lived in Guatemala and Montreal before settling in Rye in 1960. They became active members of the American Yacht Club, where they enjoyed sailing, paddle tennis, and the camaraderie of the picnic point.
Mary Lou was deeply committed to her family, friends, and the Rye community. She was among the first women to serve on the vestry at Christ’s Church and was an active member of the Rye Garden Club and the Twig Organization. She also served on the board of managers for both United Hospital and The Osborn. Mary Lou had a passion for volunteering, and her contributions to the Garden Club of America were particularly meaningful to her.
With an extraordinary memory and a gift for storytelling, Mary Lou will be remembered for the many delightful anecdotes she shared from her rich life experiences. She was an exceptional conversationalist and had a remarkable ability to form meaningful, multi-generational friendships.
In 1980, after the passing of her first husband, Ed Patterson, in 1974, Mary Lou married Robert Young. She embraced her expanded family and her new chapter. Mary Lou and Bob treasured time with their grandchildren, as well as their nephews.
Mary Lou and Bob also enjoyed boating excursions along the northeast coast and in the Florida waterways. Mary Lou was a valued member of the Vero Beach Yacht and Country Club, the Sea Oats Garden Club, and McKee Gardens, and she cherished her time spent with bridge groups.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her second husband, Robert Young; her sisters, Hannah Jane Hurlburt and Carroll T. Hurlburt; and her stepdaughter, Sally (Young) Tiven.
She is survived by her daughters, Amy Patterson (Don Reeser) and Sara Patterson-Bickers (David); her stepdaughters, Tracy Young, Susan Sandomirsky (Greg), and Robin Young; and her grandchildren, Nicholas Sandomirsky, Robin Sandomirsky, Casey Linchner, and Lucy Tiven.
A memorial service will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary Lou may be made to the Garden Club of America, the Rye Garden Club, or United Against Poverty, IRC.
