Diane Bowerman Young

Diane Bowerman Young, age 79, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2020. She was born June 16, 1941 in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Wallace Gordon Bowerman and Eunice Strausbaugh Bowerman. She was preceded in death by her brother, Dr. Jack Wallace Bowerman. Diane cherished her life with her husband, James Turner Young, by her side. She had great affection for their blended and bountiful family and was much loved by all.

Diane is also survived by daughters Allison Crotty of Mooresville, NC and Heather Funk (Ed) of Sparks, MD; sons David Crotty, Stewart Crotty (Leslie) , Gregory Young (Diane) of Baltimore, MD; sixteen grandchildren: David Crotty II, Samantha & William Messer, Mackenzie, Chase, Charlotte, and Cecilia Crotty; Kennedy Collins (Justin) and Peyton Funk; Savannah, Gregory, Nathan (Tess), Caroline, Lily, Emma, and Hope Young; great-grandson Turner James Messer; beloved extended family Rex Bowerman, Amy Bowerman Freed (Scott), Jackson and Anne Sterling Freed, and Scott (Tiffany), Brielle, Brenden, and Will Bowerman; and much loved other extended family, friends and colleagues.

Diane was raised in her grandfather’s home in Govans, surrounded by numerous aunts and uncles. She spent summers on Bird River near the family’s ancestral home, Mount Ararat. Pigtailed Diane was known to many as “Beany” and “Aunt Beany,” nicknamed by her older brother after a cartoon character she resembled. She enjoyed her many friends and the Govans boys including her older brother Jack and her lifelong friend Barry Little. Diane attended Govans Elementary and was gorgeous as the queen of the Nutcracker ballet.

Diane experienced a great sense of loss upon the death of her mother, Eunice, before starting Eastern High School. Much of her life was full of sorority life with her Delta Sigma Chi friends and she enjoyed playing softball with the “Bobbettes,” and working at the Food Fair. Diane met her first husband Walter Joseph (“Skip”) Crotty III during this time. They married in 1961 and raised their three children until Skip’s death in 1975. Diane graduated from Villa Julie College and worked as a medical secretary for first, a general practitioner and later in her marriage, five pediatricians. She created a beautiful home with decorating and sewing skills. Many enjoyed her delicious meals and canned goods from her garden.

Through mutual friends, Diane met the love of her life, James Turner Young—"My Jim” as she referred to him. They joined their two families as one in 1977 and were married for 43 years. They transformed Clarkson’s Hope, their beautiful home—inside and outside, into a showplace for themselves and their large family that was the setting for many gatherings and weddings. Together they built a thriving business, Herche Young Interiors that showcased their talents to create one of Maryland’s elite workrooms for designers. Diane had an incredible eye for design and produced creatively detailed window sketches for their many clients. Her meticulous attention to detail aided her as she managed the high-end drapery division of their business. Much of their custom work was published in interior design magazines.

Diane enjoyed their membership in the Elkridge Harford Hunt Club and the Maryland Club. She also loved sports and had fun traveling the United States for Jim’s senior softball games, where they won two national championships.

Together with the extensive efforts of her niece Amy, Diane spent the last decade of her life researching the Bowerman family history—a passion of hers. She was excited to discover she was a descendant of Lt. Colonel James Biays, a cornerstone of the early 19th century Baltimore shipping business who also commanded the fifth regiment cavalry at the battle of North Point. Diane is the great great grandniece of Brigadier General Richard Neville Bowerman of the Union Army. Her lineage can be traced to the 15th century Bowermans who resided in Brooke Manor on the Isle of Wight. She took great pride in her membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The family offers heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Madonna Heritage Assisted Living for their excellent, compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Madonna Heritage Assisted Living would be appreciated.
Please include Diane Young on memo line. Madonna Heritage, 3982 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsville MD 21084.