Huston Howard Younce, better known as Hoot, was born November 11, 1936, in Mable, NC to Howard and Parlee Younce. Like many folks in this area, they grew up with meager means, but he was always provided for. He attended Cove Creek High School where he played basketball on the famous basketball team that won 79 games in a row. After high school he attended a business college in Charlotte which was encouraged by his mother. He was also on a basketball team there and led the league in scoring averaging 20 points a game. He finished business college and married Frances Rush — they eventually had three children, Ronnie, Machelle and Darin.

Soon after, he got a job with a small finance company working for a gentleman named Bob Philips. He was what was considered a chase boy meaning he would go out to collect money from customers. Some days he would visit upwards of 100 homes per day. He was well liked with the customers, and some would even invite him into their home to eat with them. Eventually he worked for other finance companies, but years later he took a position as a manager with Security Finance Corporation, and they moved him to Cleveland, Tennessee. Then his former boss, Bob Phillips, became the president of Security Finance and asked him if he would like to be a supervisor over South Carolina. He then moved to Columbia, SC and at the time supervised 35-40 offices. At the time he began supervising the offices they weren't doing well, the delinquency was extremely high, however, within a year he had reduced delinquency to the lowest it had been with a huge increase in profits. He continued as supervisor for around 5 more years. Around 1972, he moved his family to Ridge Spring, SC a small town with around 600 people and opened his own loan office working alongside his wife and daughter. After a little over a year or so, he was approached by Bob Phillips once again and was so sought after, Bob said I need you back and he handed him a napkin and said, "write down the salary it would take to get you back."  He continued as a supervisor continually being promoted over other states until eventually, he became the Senior Vice President of the Operations for Security Finance overseeing 400-500 offices. He remained in that capacity until 1986 when he retired from Security Finance and opened his own company called Delta Management Corporation where he served as the CEO. He grew the company to 82 offices and then sold/retired in 1999. In a few years following, he came out of retirement and bought a smaller operation called Legacy Finance Corporation and operated it until his death. All in all, he was involved in the finance business for over 60+ years.

He had many hobbies. He was an avid golfer, teaching himself to golf at an early age. He became very competitive and shot his age on many occasions and won many tournaments. Even winning a tournament in his 80s with his grandson, Barin Powell. In the late 70s, he also obtained his pilot license – eventually taking a stunt flying course and became a stunt pilot where he performed aerobatics. He owned several aerobatic planes. Also, on occasion he would land his plane on the fairway of a local golf course which would both excite and terrify golfers who were on the course. He also obtained his helicopter license – even early on he purchased a helicopter in Phoenix, AZ and flew it back some 2,000 miles back to SC.

He became interested in photography and took many beautiful photos. Many were framed and passed to friends. He eventually purchased land not too far from his birthplace and built a couple of cabins. He hired his nephew, Chris Hodges, who is a master carpenter, to frame and finish the completion of the main cabin. He also had his sons, Darin and Ronnie, help with some of the construction as well. He also enjoyed hiking, bike riding and traveling out west in the US and to other countries. He also took up the hobby of restoring cars to which he, his son, Darin and a childhood friend, Jim Profitt spent many late hours and Saturdays working on – some of which were shown and won trophies. At the time he also purchased many classic cars for his own enjoyment as well.

He was generous to his family and even to strangers or anyone in need. He helped fund all of his grandchildren's further education as that was important to him. He was a unique individual who will be dearly missed. If there was a song to simply summarize his life, it would be the song "My Way" by Frank Sinatra which was in fact his favorite song.

He is survived by one daughter, Machelle Younce Powell and husband Earle of Lexington, SC; one son, Darin Younce and wife Donna of Leesville, SC, two grandsons, Dustin Younce of Leesville, SC and Barin Huston Powell and wife Shannon of Atlanta, GA; three granddaughters, Dara Younce of Ridge Spring, SC; Blake Rush Lewis and husband Caleb and Hailey Stegall, six great-grandchildren, Huston James Powell, Evans Marie Powell, "twins" Noah and Cash Lewis, Kayden Stegall, Karyss Stegall, Braxton Stegall and Baler Stegall, and one sister, Judy Norris and husband Dudley of Bethel

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Howard and Parlee Henson Younce, his wife, Frances Rush Younce, one son, Ronnie Younce and one sister, Shirley Hodges.

Funeral services for Mr. Younce will be conducted 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 7th at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Union Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends following the service at the chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Union Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Roxanne Miller, 6797 Old US Hwy 421, Zionville, North Carolina 28698 or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.