Teri Ann Butler Young

Teri Ann Butler Young, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, passed away on June 11, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas, at the age of 66.

Born on August 22, 1958, in Littlefield, Texas, Teri was raised in Anton, where she grew up on a cotton farm and graduated from Anton High School in 1976. She pursued her dream of becoming a pharmacist with determination and excellence, attending Texas Tech University and later Southwestern Oklahoma State University. There, she was a proud member of Rho Ki, president of Kappa Epsilon, and a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1981 and became the youngest registered pharmacist in Texas on the very day she married the love of her life, James Oren Young.

Teri’s professional journey was one of dedication, intellect, and deep compassion. Over the years, she served the Lubbock community at Raff and Hall Pharmacy, St. Mary’s, West Texas Hospital, and University Medical Center. She later transitioned to Covenant Home Health and ultimately found her calling at the Joe Arrington Cancer Center, where she remained until her retirement. While working full-time, she returned to Southwestern Oklahoma State University and earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree in 2004.

As a clinical research pharmacist, Teri led investigations into promising cancer therapies and never lost sight of the people behind the prescriptions. She advocated fiercely for her patients and was known for her attention to detail, insistence on excellence, and a quiet but unshakable resolve to do what was right. She once said her work was about “buying more time for patients and their loved ones and to extend the time they had left to get their affairs in order.” That sense of purpose shaped everything she did.

Teri brought the same commitment and creativity to her personal life. She was a talented crafter and needleworker who made homemade costumes, needlework, scrapbooks, and cards. She had a curious mind and loved to read, garden (especially tending to her flowers), and even took apart broken appliances. If she was going to call a repairman it better be “broken.” She embraced Zumba classes, 5K fun runs, baking, and most of all, time spent with her grandchildren, whom she loved deeply and delighted in spoiling.

She is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, James Oren Young; her sons, Andrew Young and wife Vivian, and Aaron Young; and her grandchildren, Violet, Owen, Logan, and Declan Young. She is also survived by her parents, Doyle and Bettie Butler; her sister, Traci Murgia and husband Ken; and her sister-in-law, Julie Long and husband Tim.

Teri lived her life with integrity, humor, and a deep sense of responsibility. She held herself and others to high standards, believed in doing things the right way the first time, and left an indelible impact on every life she touched.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, June 15, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Lakeridge Chapel and Memorial Designers in Lubbock, TX.
A celebration of life will take place on Monday, June 16, at 11:00 AM at Calvary Baptist Church in Lubbock, with guests asked to arrive 30 minutes early.
A burial service will follow at 2:00 PM at Anton Cemetery in Anton, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Teri’s name to a cancer research organization of your choice, in honor of her life’s work and legacy.

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