Michael Steven Young

Michael S. "Mickey" Young, MD, JD, passed away in Oklahoma City on September 28, 2026, holding his son's hand and surrounded by love.

Born in California on December 12, 1962, Mickey was a truly self-made man, dedicated to making choices that would make the world a better place. As a child, in order to develop his own understanding of God and morality, he found a way to go to church even though no one was around to take him. As a teenager, he discovered how to throw a "bad forkball" before Bruce Sutter popularized the splitter. As a young man, he decided that his success as a student meant he should become a doctor, and so he left the Bay Area and traveled all the way across the country to Boston because that's where the best doctors learn.

Mickey was a three-time graduate of Boston University, earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biomedical Engineering in 1985 and 1989 before graduating from the School of Medicine in 1991. He became a neurologist and helped countless patients as a physician, combining medical excellence and human kindness in accordance with the highest ideals of his vocation. If a patient could only offer a bucket of Flathead cherries or a jar of honey in exchange for lifesaving care, that was always more than enough.

In order to achieve better work-life balance, Mickey retired from medicine in the mid-2000s, attended Creighton University School of Law, and became a patent attorney. As a solo practitioner, Mickey helped small business owners and inventors, many of whom became wonderful friends who appreciated, or were at least amused by, his unique perspective on business, medicine, and life.

Although Mickey believed that all people should try to unite their avocation and vocation ("as my two eyes make one in sight"), he was much more than just his professions. After being friends for five years and dating for two weeks, Mickey married Ellen on August 4, 1990. Together, they built a family and co-created cherry blueberry pie. Mickey shared his love of Dungeons & Dragons, comic books, baseball, bull riding, Laurel & Hardy, and so much more with his children. As a grandfather, "Poppy" played games, shared cookies, and taught kids how to throw that forkball.

For Mickey, the happiness of Ellen and his children was essential to his own, and from this core did a deep and abiding love for others radiate outward, permeating all his words and deeds. Even while lying in the hospital in the final hours of his life, Mickey shared medical tips with a young nurse because he believed that teaching and helping others was always worthwhile, no matter the circumstances.

Mickey is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Ellen; his son, Seamus, and his daughter-in-law, Samantha; his son, Blaise; his daughter, Mary Kate; his grandchildren, Noah, Eddie, and Jacob; lifelong friends who were the family he chose; and the many children and grandchildren of his heart.

May Mickey's memory be an eternal blessing to those who knew him and to the many whose lives he made better through his being. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to World Central Kitchen .