It is with deep sorrow and boundless love that we announce the passing of Dawn Speer Young, age 63, who passed away peacefully on September 3rd, 2025, after a courageous battle with stomach cancer. Dawn was at her happy place, the family beach house in South Bethany, Delaware, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by her loved ones.
Dawn was born in March of 1962 in Alexandria, Virginia, daughter of the late John and Celeste Speer. She is survived by her husband, John “Taylor” Young III and two beloved children, John Taylor “JT” Young IV and Courtney Young and her fiancé Andrew Lefcourt. As well as cherished sisters and brother, Christie (Roger) Price, John “Jeff” (Maria) Speer, Cathy (Bob) McKinnell, and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dawn was a 1980 graduate of West Springfield High School, 1982 graduate of Ferrum College and then followed her lifelong love of animals by graduating the Maryland School of Dog Grooming. She went on to build a thriving career as a small business owner, bringing her to the sunshine states of California and Florida and soon became the “local dog whisperer” to countless families over more than 35 years. Known for her compassion toward all creatures, she had an extraordinary way of caring not only for our pets but for the people who loved them.
Equally devoted to her community, Dawn was the heart of Wakefield Chapel in Annandale, Va. She was involved in neighborhood events, fundraisers, local gatherings, and she poured her enthusiasm into many social circles. Whether at book club, Bunco, tennis, the pool committee, or simply hosting friends on her “tropical oasis” porch, Dawn made every gathering brighter. She also found joy as a member of the National Potomac Yacht Club and her beloved “Berkeley Girls” group.
Adventurous at heart, Dawn lived life to the fullest. Whether hiking the Italian coast, boating on the Potomac River, or simply turning an ordinary day into something unforgettable with her laughter and boundless energy. Friends and family often said that with Dawn, even an ordinary day turned into something memorable. She had a rare gift for making everyone feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated. Her home, always decorated for the next season, was a reflection of her warmth and fun-loving spirit.
Even in passing, Dawn continues her lifelong commitment to helping others. True to her generous spirit, she chose to donate her body to science so that future generations may benefit from advances in medicine and research.
To know Dawn was to know someone unstoppable. Her positivity, loyalty, humor, and fearless zest for life touched all who crossed her path. She will be profoundly missed, but her radiant spirit lives on in her family, her community, and the many lives she touched.
To honor her love of tennis and the water, plaques will be placed at the Wakefield Chapel tennis courts in Annandale, Virginia, and along the Lake Worth, Florida walkway – lasting reminders of her joy, passion, and enduring presence in the places she loved most.
Here’s to Dawn, forever ready with a crab mallet, a tennis racket, and a smile. May her spirit cheer us on in every adventure ahead.
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