Hershel M. Young, 71, of Cadiz, Ohio died on Friday, March 2, 2007 at his home. He was born January 23, 1936 in Dyess, Arkansas, son of the late Wilmer Grady Young and Lyda May Mansfield Young.

Hershel was a retired petty officer from the U. S. Navy serving for 22 years through the Korean War and Vietnam War. He was also retired from L. J. Smith in Bowerston, Ohio. He was a member of the American Legion Post # 482 in Scio; he was a member of Scio Lodge #587 F. & A.M.. He was a member of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Steubenville.

Hershel was a country musician. He grew up with and was friends with Johnny Cash and played in Elvis Presley?s band and his cousin was country star Faron Young.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife Lois Young.

Surviving are his wife, Elaine Norris Wood Young; two sons, John Young of Hawaii and Richard Young of Hanover, Ohio; his stepchildren, Robert Wood, Janet Ross, Brenda Finn, Ramona Ray, Marjorie Kraft, Carolyn Hoffman, Mary Jane Blake and Ray Wood; three brothers, Carmen, Gerald and Russell; a sister, Wanda; four grandchildren; several step grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Family and friends will be received at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville, Ohio Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., where services will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. with Pastor Robert Wood officiating. Interment will follow at Warnock Cemetery, Warnock, Ohio.

There will be services conducted by the Belmont County Council of American Legions on Monday at 12:45 p.m.