Marlene Eckert Young

Marlene Eckert Young passed away on Wednesday, August 6, in Texas City due to complications from Parkinson's disease. She was born in Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania on September 10, 1935. In between, she lived a wonderful life.

Marlene loved tennis, both as a player and as an observer. She played recreationally at the Galveston Racquet Club and the Lowry Center tennis courts in Texas City. Twice she attended the U.S Open in New York. A favorite memory of hers was while on a vacation to Rome with her husband Sid, she collected the autograph of Brazilian star Gustav Kurtin as he got on a hotel elevator, having just won the Italian Open.

Marlene's work experience included stints with the Galveston Historical Foundation and the Galveston Parks Board. As the administrative assistant to Dr. Frank Wetta, chair of the Social Sciences division at Galveston College, she met her future husband, Sid, who was a Professor of American Government in the department.

In addition to being a tax preparer along with Sid at their business, Tax Fax, Marlene spent fifteen years as a substitute teacher in the Texas City schools. Like a utility infielder in baseball (of which she was also a big fan), she taught at many different grade levels from elementary school at Heights to teenagers at Texas City High School. She was beloved and respected by students and fellow teachers alike.

Marlene loved to travel. As an adventurous single young lady, she toured the Greek Isles. After marrying Sid, she repeated that trip. She also traveled to Italy, Spain, and Canada with Sid. Domestically, she visited the states of California and Washington on the West Coast, and D.C. and New York on the East Coast.

Marlene was an accomplished artist. (Some of her work will be on display at the Emken-Linton Funeral Home.) She was a member of the Galveston Art League and took first place for her depiction of an elderly African American woman. Other works include portraits of her daughter Kim as a child and her husband Sid... as well as a self-portrait of walking on the beach in Galveston.

Marlene is survived by her husband Sidney “Sid” Young, daughter Kim of Coatsville, Pennsylvania and her cousins Bill and Sue Clendenen of suburban Philadelphia and her stepsister Christine Evron of Tenefly, New Jersey. She is also survived by her stepdaughters, Cyndy Talley of Longview and Shari Johansson of Denver, Colorado, son-in-law David Johansson of Denver, Colorado and grandchildren Elias Johansson of Columbus, Ohio, Alaina Johansson of Houston, Texas and Grace Talley, also of Houston, Texas. She is preceded in death by son-in-law Ben Talley and grandson Tyler Talley.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. prior to the services on Friday morning.

Funeral services will be held at the Emken-Linton Funeral Home, 5100 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway in Texas City on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., in the morning. Interment will be at the Kilgore Cemetery in Kilgore, Texas on Monday, July 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Parkinson Foundation, 2700 Southwest Fwy #300, Houston, Texas 77098.