Jack Welzie Young

Jack Welzie Young, 84, of Candler, NC, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026. He was born in Asheville, NC, on April 15, 1942, to the late Joe Herman Young and Mary Louise Duskin Young.

Jack was raised in Candler, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors while helping on his family’s farm. From an early age, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working the land, interests that remained among his greatest passions throughout his life.

A proud member of the Enka High School Class of 1960, Jack went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduation, he returned to the mountains of Western North Carolina, where he worked as a chemist for DuPont and Northrup before pursuing his dream of owning his own business.

Jack founded Jack Young Greenhouses, a business he proudly owned and operated for more than 50 years. His dedication to excellence earned him the respect and admiration of nursery operators throughout the region. His legendary poinsettias became a hallmark of the holiday season and were proudly displayed for many years at the Biltmore Estate, Mission Hospital, and numerous businesses throughout Western North Carolina.

Before beginning his greenhouse business, Jack met and married the love of his life, Brenda “Kay” Davis Young. Together, they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage filled with love, partnership, and unwavering devotion. Jack took great pride in the life they built together, finding his greatest joy in his family and the business he nurtured through hard work and determination.

In addition to growing beautiful flowers, Jack enjoyed spending time outdoors, bowling with friends, and making his cherished annual fishing trips to the remote lakes of northern Ontario, Canada. He was a humble, hardworking man whose kindness, integrity, and quiet strength earned him the love and respect of all who knew him. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, and he will be deeply missed.

Jack is survived by his devoted wife, Kay Young; his beloved daughter, Nicole Roberts and husband Casey; his precious sister, Anita Hendrix and husband David; and many cherished nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 28, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. A graveside service will immediately follow at Oak Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery in Candler.

The family is deeply grateful for the love, prayers, and support shown during this time as they celebrate the life of a devoted husband, father, brother, businessman, and friend whose memory will be treasured always.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or to the WNC Bridge Foundation (formerly the CarePartners Foundation) Rathbun House.