Myrtle was a line inspector for Seyfert Potato Chips. She was made famous by being on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and showing potato chips of unusual shapes and sizes; usually resembling people, states, etc.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Potato chip lady Myrtle Young dies at 90
Latest News
She became a celebrity after her guest appearance with Johnny Carson in 1987
From News-Sentinel staff reports
Monday, August 11, 2014 - 2:26 pm
The Fort Wayne woman who sat next to Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show" with her potato chip collection in 1987 has reportedly died.
Ian Hoover of 21Alive reported that Myrtle Young died on Saturday of natural causes. She was 90. Her guest appearance with some of her potato chips on "The Tonight Show" was ranked the Funniest moment "Ever" in Television history by TV Guide.
The former potato chip inspector for Seyfert's was sitting in the guest chair between Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on ``The Tonight Show.'' Young had flown out to show off her collection of potato chips that resemble famous people and animals.
Then, after Ed McMahon distracted her, she heard ``crunch, crunch, crunch'' -- the sound of Carson munching potato chips.
Young swung around, her face showing sheer horror.
``My heart just stopped,'' recalled Young, who didn't know Carson was munching on chips from a bowl hidden under his desk. ``I thought he ate one of them.''
The editors of TV Guide magazine named that moment the funniest on television in the previous 50 years.
The appearance also propelled Young to celebrity status.
Besides visiting the Carson show in Burbank, Calif., she also was a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman" in New York and several other TV shows.
Young knew an unusual potato chip when she saw one -- she had been a chip inspector for 17 years. She collected about a hundred of them that looked like ... well, like other things.
``That's nothing, they ought to see what I've got!" Young sniffed when she read Ripley's Believe It or Not cartoon about a peanut shaped like a wooden shoe.
So she phoned The News-Sentinel earlier in 1987 about her potato chip collection. She told us she's Seyfert's potato chip inspector 17 years, and had turned up some chips we simply must see to believe.
A potato chip collection? "Oh, yes!" she bubbled. "They're shaped like horses' heads, boots, Yogi Bear, just all kinds of things!''
A reporter was dispatched. He discovered 100 chips arranged on newspaper, on her Formica kitchen table, next to a bowl of plastic fruit.
The rest is history.
The viewing will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Joy Fellowship Assembly of God church, 109 Moeller Road in New Haven. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Arrangements are being coordinated by Covington Memorial Gardens on Covington Road in Fort Wayne.∼MYRTLE NOLA YOUNG, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 from natural causes. Born in Morehead, Ky. in 1924, a daughter of Pearl and Henry S. Alfrey. While pneumonia took the life of her father, she was primarily raised by her mother and stepfather, Martin Klug. Myrtle retired from Seyferts foods in 1989 but remained their tour guide until they closed the plant. Her notoriety as "Fort Wayne's Potato Chip Lady" began in 1985 when she appeared as a guest on the David Letterman and Johnny Carson Shows. Her discovery and collection of the different shapes and sizes of potato chips resembling items, animals and a few famous peoples profiles grew and resulted in 43 television shows and interviews; some of which took her overseas.
Surviving are her daughter, Marilyn Young (Wayne) Wiles; two granddaughters, Pamela Tracy and Autumn Stanek; and a step-grandson, Spencer Wiles all of Fort Wayne; one sister, Gladys Spencer of Dayton, Ohio; and one brother, Martin Klug Jr. of Ossian; also surviving are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine A. Tracy; and recently, son-in-law, Robert Tracy II; siblings, Grace Burris, Bernice Johnson, Norma Barrand and Cletus Alfrey.
Service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Joy Fellowship Church, 109 Moeller Road, New Haven, with calling one hour prior. Pastor Mathias Snodderly officiating. Visitation also from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial following the service at Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials to the Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Potato chip lady Myrtle Young dies at 90
Latest News
She became a celebrity after her guest appearance with Johnny Carson in 1987
From News-Sentinel staff reports
Monday, August 11, 2014 - 2:26 pm
The Fort Wayne woman who sat next to Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show" with her potato chip collection in 1987 has reportedly died.
Ian Hoover of 21Alive reported that Myrtle Young died on Saturday of natural causes. She was 90. Her guest appearance with some of her potato chips on "The Tonight Show" was ranked the Funniest moment "Ever" in Television history by TV Guide.
The former potato chip inspector for Seyfert's was sitting in the guest chair between Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on ``The Tonight Show.'' Young had flown out to show off her collection of potato chips that resemble famous people and animals.
Then, after Ed McMahon distracted her, she heard ``crunch, crunch, crunch'' -- the sound of Carson munching potato chips.
Young swung around, her face showing sheer horror.
``My heart just stopped,'' recalled Young, who didn't know Carson was munching on chips from a bowl hidden under his desk. ``I thought he ate one of them.''
The editors of TV Guide magazine named that moment the funniest on television in the previous 50 years.
The appearance also propelled Young to celebrity status.
Besides visiting the Carson show in Burbank, Calif., she also was a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman" in New York and several other TV shows.
Young knew an unusual potato chip when she saw one -- she had been a chip inspector for 17 years. She collected about a hundred of them that looked like ... well, like other things.
``That's nothing, they ought to see what I've got!" Young sniffed when she read Ripley's Believe It or Not cartoon about a peanut shaped like a wooden shoe.
So she phoned The News-Sentinel earlier in 1987 about her potato chip collection. She told us she's Seyfert's potato chip inspector 17 years, and had turned up some chips we simply must see to believe.
A potato chip collection? "Oh, yes!" she bubbled. "They're shaped like horses' heads, boots, Yogi Bear, just all kinds of things!''
A reporter was dispatched. He discovered 100 chips arranged on newspaper, on her Formica kitchen table, next to a bowl of plastic fruit.
The rest is history.
The viewing will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Joy Fellowship Assembly of God church, 109 Moeller Road in New Haven. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Arrangements are being coordinated by Covington Memorial Gardens on Covington Road in Fort Wayne.∼MYRTLE NOLA YOUNG, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 from natural causes. Born in Morehead, Ky. in 1924, a daughter of Pearl and Henry S. Alfrey. While pneumonia took the life of her father, she was primarily raised by her mother and stepfather, Martin Klug. Myrtle retired from Seyferts foods in 1989 but remained their tour guide until they closed the plant. Her notoriety as "Fort Wayne's Potato Chip Lady" began in 1985 when she appeared as a guest on the David Letterman and Johnny Carson Shows. Her discovery and collection of the different shapes and sizes of potato chips resembling items, animals and a few famous peoples profiles grew and resulted in 43 television shows and interviews; some of which took her overseas.
Surviving are her daughter, Marilyn Young (Wayne) Wiles; two granddaughters, Pamela Tracy and Autumn Stanek; and a step-grandson, Spencer Wiles all of Fort Wayne; one sister, Gladys Spencer of Dayton, Ohio; and one brother, Martin Klug Jr. of Ossian; also surviving are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine A. Tracy; and recently, son-in-law, Robert Tracy II; siblings, Grace Burris, Bernice Johnson, Norma Barrand and Cletus Alfrey.
Service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Joy Fellowship Church, 109 Moeller Road, New Haven, with calling one hour prior. Pastor Mathias Snodderly officiating. Visitation also from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial following the service at Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials to the Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry.
Myrtle was a line inspector for Seyfert Potato Chips. She was made famous by being on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and showing potato chips of unusual shapes and sizes; usually resembling people, states, etc.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Potato chip lady Myrtle Young dies at 90
Latest News
She became a celebrity after her guest appearance with Johnny Carson in 1987
From News-Sentinel staff reports
Monday, August 11, 2014 - 2:26 pm
The Fort Wayne woman who sat next to Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show" with her potato chip collection in 1987 has reportedly died.
Ian Hoover of 21Alive reported that Myrtle Young died on Saturday of natural causes. She was 90. Her guest appearance with some of her potato chips on "The Tonight Show" was ranked the Funniest moment "Ever" in Television history by TV Guide.
The former potato chip inspector for Seyfert's was sitting in the guest chair between Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on ``The Tonight Show.'' Young had flown out to show off her collection of potato chips that resemble famous people and animals.
Then, after Ed McMahon distracted her, she heard ``crunch, crunch, crunch'' -- the sound of Carson munching potato chips.
Young swung around, her face showing sheer horror.
``My heart just stopped,'' recalled Young, who didn't know Carson was munching on chips from a bowl hidden under his desk. ``I thought he ate one of them.''
The editors of TV Guide magazine named that moment the funniest on television in the previous 50 years.
The appearance also propelled Young to celebrity status.
Besides visiting the Carson show in Burbank, Calif., she also was a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman" in New York and several other TV shows.
Young knew an unusual potato chip when she saw one -- she had been a chip inspector for 17 years. She collected about a hundred of them that looked like ... well, like other things.
``That's nothing, they ought to see what I've got!" Young sniffed when she read Ripley's Believe It or Not cartoon about a peanut shaped like a wooden shoe.
So she phoned The News-Sentinel earlier in 1987 about her potato chip collection. She told us she's Seyfert's potato chip inspector 17 years, and had turned up some chips we simply must see to believe.
A potato chip collection? "Oh, yes!" she bubbled. "They're shaped like horses' heads, boots, Yogi Bear, just all kinds of things!''
A reporter was dispatched. He discovered 100 chips arranged on newspaper, on her Formica kitchen table, next to a bowl of plastic fruit.
The rest is history.
The viewing will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Joy Fellowship Assembly of God church, 109 Moeller Road in New Haven. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Arrangements are being coordinated by Covington Memorial Gardens on Covington Road in Fort Wayne.∼MYRTLE NOLA YOUNG, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 from natural causes. Born in Morehead, Ky. in 1924, a daughter of Pearl and Henry S. Alfrey. While pneumonia took the life of her father, she was primarily raised by her mother and stepfather, Martin Klug. Myrtle retired from Seyferts foods in 1989 but remained their tour guide until they closed the plant. Her notoriety as "Fort Wayne's Potato Chip Lady" began in 1985 when she appeared as a guest on the David Letterman and Johnny Carson Shows. Her discovery and collection of the different shapes and sizes of potato chips resembling items, animals and a few famous peoples profiles grew and resulted in 43 television shows and interviews; some of which took her overseas.
Surviving are her daughter, Marilyn Young (Wayne) Wiles; two granddaughters, Pamela Tracy and Autumn Stanek; and a step-grandson, Spencer Wiles all of Fort Wayne; one sister, Gladys Spencer of Dayton, Ohio; and one brother, Martin Klug Jr. of Ossian; also surviving are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine A. Tracy; and recently, son-in-law, Robert Tracy II; siblings, Grace Burris, Bernice Johnson, Norma Barrand and Cletus Alfrey.
Service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Joy Fellowship Church, 109 Moeller Road, New Haven, with calling one hour prior. Pastor Mathias Snodderly officiating. Visitation also from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial following the service at Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials to the Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Potato chip lady Myrtle Young dies at 90
Latest News
She became a celebrity after her guest appearance with Johnny Carson in 1987
From News-Sentinel staff reports
Monday, August 11, 2014 - 2:26 pm
The Fort Wayne woman who sat next to Johnny Carson on the "Tonight Show" with her potato chip collection in 1987 has reportedly died.
Ian Hoover of 21Alive reported that Myrtle Young died on Saturday of natural causes. She was 90. Her guest appearance with some of her potato chips on "The Tonight Show" was ranked the Funniest moment "Ever" in Television history by TV Guide.
The former potato chip inspector for Seyfert's was sitting in the guest chair between Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on ``The Tonight Show.'' Young had flown out to show off her collection of potato chips that resemble famous people and animals.
Then, after Ed McMahon distracted her, she heard ``crunch, crunch, crunch'' -- the sound of Carson munching potato chips.
Young swung around, her face showing sheer horror.
``My heart just stopped,'' recalled Young, who didn't know Carson was munching on chips from a bowl hidden under his desk. ``I thought he ate one of them.''
The editors of TV Guide magazine named that moment the funniest on television in the previous 50 years.
The appearance also propelled Young to celebrity status.
Besides visiting the Carson show in Burbank, Calif., she also was a guest on "Late Night with David Letterman" in New York and several other TV shows.
Young knew an unusual potato chip when she saw one -- she had been a chip inspector for 17 years. She collected about a hundred of them that looked like ... well, like other things.
``That's nothing, they ought to see what I've got!" Young sniffed when she read Ripley's Believe It or Not cartoon about a peanut shaped like a wooden shoe.
So she phoned The News-Sentinel earlier in 1987 about her potato chip collection. She told us she's Seyfert's potato chip inspector 17 years, and had turned up some chips we simply must see to believe.
A potato chip collection? "Oh, yes!" she bubbled. "They're shaped like horses' heads, boots, Yogi Bear, just all kinds of things!''
A reporter was dispatched. He discovered 100 chips arranged on newspaper, on her Formica kitchen table, next to a bowl of plastic fruit.
The rest is history.
The viewing will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Joy Fellowship Assembly of God church, 109 Moeller Road in New Haven. The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Arrangements are being coordinated by Covington Memorial Gardens on Covington Road in Fort Wayne.∼MYRTLE NOLA YOUNG, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 from natural causes. Born in Morehead, Ky. in 1924, a daughter of Pearl and Henry S. Alfrey. While pneumonia took the life of her father, she was primarily raised by her mother and stepfather, Martin Klug. Myrtle retired from Seyferts foods in 1989 but remained their tour guide until they closed the plant. Her notoriety as "Fort Wayne's Potato Chip Lady" began in 1985 when she appeared as a guest on the David Letterman and Johnny Carson Shows. Her discovery and collection of the different shapes and sizes of potato chips resembling items, animals and a few famous peoples profiles grew and resulted in 43 television shows and interviews; some of which took her overseas.
Surviving are her daughter, Marilyn Young (Wayne) Wiles; two granddaughters, Pamela Tracy and Autumn Stanek; and a step-grandson, Spencer Wiles all of Fort Wayne; one sister, Gladys Spencer of Dayton, Ohio; and one brother, Martin Klug Jr. of Ossian; also surviving are many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine A. Tracy; and recently, son-in-law, Robert Tracy II; siblings, Grace Burris, Bernice Johnson, Norma Barrand and Cletus Alfrey.
Service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Joy Fellowship Church, 109 Moeller Road, New Haven, with calling one hour prior. Pastor Mathias Snodderly officiating. Visitation also from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial following the service at Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials to the Fort Wayne Pet Food Pantry.
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
