Derrick Young, Sr. was born December 1, 1971 in Greenville, Mississippi to Lehon "Cal" Young III and Ella Smith. He moved to Chicago when he was three years old where he was raised by his loving parents, Tilman and Ella Darden. He became affectionately known as "Chi" after he moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1998. Derrick passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at the young age of 47.

Derrick accepted Christ at an early age while attending Antioch Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. He was baptized at Covenant Memorial Church on November 1, 1998 in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois in 1990 and earned his electrical certification. Derrick joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in 1998.

Derrick married his high school sweetheart, Zita Davis, on April 25, 1992, a year after graduating from high school. To this union, Shataka and Derrick Jr. were born. Derrick married Shari Young on May 24, 2015. This union merged two beautiful families together.

Derrick truly lived life to the fullest! No one who met and knew him could forget his infectious passion for his family, work, and social life. He had the ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. To know him was to love him. He had a love for motorcycles, cars, traveling, skating, entrepreneurship, and gardening (bet you didn't know he had a green thumb). He worked hard but played harder. Derrick was giving, kind, affectionate, generous, peaceful, loving, passionate, charismatic, magnetic, dynamic, innovative, gifted, and hard-working. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with.

Derrick is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Bernadine Slay Young and Lehon "Big June" Young, Jr., as well as his maternal grandfather, Manuel Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Shari Young; his parents, Ella (Tilman) Darden; his father and stepmother, Lehon "Cal" (Jessie) Young III; grandmother, Melvina Smith; daughter and son-in-law, Shataka (Aaron) Jordan; son, Derrick Young, Jr.; adopted son and daughter-in-law, Darius (Sabrina) Montgomery; stepchildren, D'Shawn Jordan, Nastajia Robinson, and Renee Wheaton; sisters, Adrienne Austin and Nakinna Young; nephews, Adrian Darden and Jalen Austin; grandchildren, Faith Rogers, Hope Jordan, Grace Jordan, Pharrell Montgomery and Neilia Montgomery; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and many many friends.

In the words of Derrick Young, "You should wake up and smile every day, be happy, and live life to the fullest!" I challenge you all to keep his memory and legacy alive!

Funeral services Saturday, August 3, 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Church International. Private disposition. Visitation 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the church. Services conducted by Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors. Condolences may be shared on our website.