Oneonta, NY - ONEONTA - Carl Phillip "Phil" Young, 78, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Cooperstown, with family by his side and in the continuing presence of the Creator. He was born May 18, 1947, in Henryetta, Oklahoma, on the Creek Nation, the son of Earnest B. Young and Ruth M. Conner.

Phil graduated from Midwest City High School, followed by getting his Bachelor of Arts degree at Temple University, where he met his partner and love of his life, Hannelore "Honey" Gloss Young. Phil and Honey were married May 10, 1969, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and were together for the next 56 years. They kicked off their marriage with a honeymoon road trip and continued to travel together all these years, returning often to Phil's cherished Southwest, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and the Jersey shore. Phil earned two master's degrees; a Master of divinity from Wesley Seminary, and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from American University in Washington, D.C. During those years Phil became even more passionate about social injustice which he expressed in his art works, his writings and his music.

Despite his Upstate New York residence, Phil often said, "the red clay of Oklahoma still runs in my veins." He had an ongoing love and reverence for the land and created many landscape-derived art works. He was blessed with resilient, remembered family stories of humor and healing. He was deeply devoted to his family, especially his wife and three children. The imprint of his various communities: faith, art, academia, colleagues, and students, bore indelible marks on Phil's life.

Phil was a beloved professor of art for 38 years. He began his teaching career at Greensboro College in North Carolina before moving to Oneonta in 1978 where he taught painting, drawing, design, and papermaking at Hartwick College. Phil and family spent a sabbatical year in San Diego, California, in 1985, where the desert and rocky coastline landscapes greatly influenced him. Phil retired in 2013, being honored with the title of Professor Emeritus. He continued to teach and administer the Arts Ministry program at his church in Oneonta until his death.

Phil was a recipient of a Millay Colony Residency, Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Painting and Sculpture, and a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Sculpture, as well as teaching and research awards from Hartwick College, including the Excellence in Teaching award. Most recently, the Phil Young Residency for Indigenous Art was established at Hartwick, ensuring a continued legacy of uplifting and highlighting native artists in higher education.

Among the many art exhibits and shows, Phil's work was notably at the Heard Museum, William Benton Museum of Art at UConn, Fenimore Art Museum, Munson Museum of Art, Atlanta History Center, Art-in-General, the Swiss Institute NYC, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University. Among his national exhibitions was the four-year traveling show, ARTRAIN, USA "Native Views, Contemporary American Culture: Contemporary Native American Art."

Phil is survived by his wife Honey, daughter, Courtney Young and her partner, Peter Aamodt, daughter, Caitlyn Young, and son, Benjamin Young and his wife, Sylvie Harris, along with dear cousins, many friends and his church family.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta. Please visit https://firstumc-oneonta.org/events/phil-young/2025-11-22 for live-streaming details.

In lieu of flowers, please support The Phil Young Residency for Indigenous Art at Hartwick College, the United Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief (UMCOR), or any organizations dedicated to equity, human rights, and peace. Donations to the art residency may be made at www.hartwickalumni.org/give or check payable to Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta NY 13820, noting the fund. Donations to UMCOR may be made at https://www.firstumc-oneonta.org/give or with check payable to First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820.

Arrangements are by the Lewis, Hurley, & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, NY; www.lhpfuneralhome.com.