Honouring Gary Young
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It is with a heavy heart that we share with you that our beloved founder, Gary Young, had passed away peacefully at home, among family and friends on 12th May. While we mourn his passing, we remember the spirit with which he founded Young Living and we are committed to carry on his vision and good work. We also bring you a message from president and CEO, Jared Turner. Together with Mary, Jared and the corporate team are committed to honouring Gary's memory by continuing his legacy and vision of the future of the company. We cherish the time we have had with Gary and honour a truly great humanitarian. |
A message from Jared Turner, President & Chief Operating Officer
Dear Members, partners and friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that my mentor and friend, our beloved founder Gary Young, passed away peacefully on 12th May in Salt Lake City, Utah surrounded by his closest family and friends due to complications resulting from a series of strokes.
Even though he wouldn’t want us to feel this way, everyone at Young Living is heartbroken by this loss. We take solace in remembering the special man who was such an iconic pioneer and messenger for essential oils and their benefits to people around the world.
Gary was the undisputed leader of the global essential oil movement. He spent 35 years studying the benefits and perfecting the extraction of essential oils, while building a billion-dollar plus global business designed to share what he deemed “the gift” of essential oils with millions of people.
His commitment to physical and emotional wellbeing, combined with his lifelong love of nature, drove him to learn everything about essential oils—from how they are produced to their wellness benefits. He was passionate about providing all of our members with only the highest quality oils, sourced from our own farms and Seed to Seal certified suppliers and partners across the globe, so that millions can enjoy the full benefits of these amazing natural gifts today.
Those who knew Gary understood that no man ever had a bigger heart or was more devoted to the betterment of humanity. His love for others, empathy, and forgiving nature were always on display across his roles as a husband, father, farmer, researcher, leader, explorer, innovator, mentor, philanthropist, and more. Gary’s “maverick” spirit, unfailing work ethic, and passion for life inspired everyone around him to be better, bolder, and kinder. He not only pioneered and created the product category of high quality essential oils as a mainstream wellness solution, but he also raised the bar for quality standards and created a purpose-driven movement that continues to sweep the globe and change millions of lives for the better.
Mary, the executive team, and I have worked side-by-side with Gary and have had many discussions about his vision for the future of the company. We are completely committed to carrying on his legacy and mission of providing Young Living essential oils to every home in the world.
Mary will continue to serve as the CEO and I will continue in my role of president and chief operating officer. In recent years, Gary and Mary have recruited and developed a world-class executive team. This talented group has diverse expertise across industries, from operations and manufacturing to research and marketing. This team has grown the business 800 percent over the last five years.
Our corporate staff is committed to “take action” as Gary always guided, and we invite you to join us in honoring his memory by striving every day to live by his philosophy:
“To truly accomplish our vision of taking the priceless benefits of our essential oils and oil-infused products to every home in the world, every possible effort is required. We seek ways to take positive, powerful action every day in every way. Ours is a proactive culture—never a reactive one.”
From a personal standpoint, I will miss Gary very much. He played an instrumental role in my life, helping me grow as a leader but more importantly as a man. Gary was from humble beginnings, and even as Young Living grew and experienced success, he never lost sight of his passion for helping others. Having the opportunity to work by his side for the last six years has taught me lessons about determination and the importance of relationships. I will honor our friendship by always asking myself, “What would Gary do?” to help me make important decisions. My family and I are indebted to Gary for bringing us into this amazing journey of sharing “the gift” of essential oils with millions of people.
Mary and their boys Jacob and Josef thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.
Respectfully,
Jared Turner
President and Chief Operating Officer
Young Living