Charles Stuart “Yukon Charlie” Young, born March 18, 1952, in Berkeley, Calif., died Sunday, May 25, 2014, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer from health complications. He was 62 years old. 

Charlie came to Alaska 22 years ago and made numerous friends. “He lived a good life full of interesting people, lovers, friends and a few rascals,” his family said. 

His own words are engraved on the ceramic whiskey jug found in his cabin. They read as follows: “Yukon Charlie: I sang, danced, laffed, lied, loved, fought, thought and traveled.”

“He was generous, always mailing gifts to family and friends, and had the best stories to tell,” his family said.

After traveling all over the U.S. and Mexico, and getting “86ed” from Canada, he felt that Alaska was where he was meant to be. Anybody who knew Yukon Charlie also knew of his artistic talents and his award-winning wood sculpting artwork. His last place of residence was in Homer at the “Grateful Dead End” of Bunnell Avenue. 

“A large part of Yukon Charlie still remains in Homer. He will be missed by many,” his family said. 

A memorial service was held for Charlie on the evening of June 4, 2014, at the beach in Homer. Attended by a brother and a nephew as well as a few friends, a few dogs and the whiskey jug, local musicians were there and sang songs such as “The Big Rock Candy Mountain” dedicated to his memory. A large hand-drawn portrait of Yukon Charlie by a local artist was also on display.

A cousin wrote, “We should all celebrate his life, so the times when we do get together we will click our glasses and remember the man who wouldn’t change his way of living for anyone.”

“Indeed it was a celebration of his life and he would’ve approved,” his family said. 

Charlie is survived by his brothers, Tom and John, and sisters, Gloria, Angela, Meghan and Juli.