Joe Austin

Joe Austin, son of the late Elmer “Bill” and Lou Etta (Grimes) Austin, was born August 5, 1933 in Rayborn, Missouri, and departed this life August 5, 2023, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, at the age of 90.

Joe was the youngest of five children. He attended school in Mountain Grove where he played football and was active in choir and glee club. He graduated with the Mountain Grove High School class of 1952. Joe then enlisted in the United States Navy where he served his country and obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He served at the Olathe Naval Air Station in Kansas and the Patuxent Naval Air Base in Maryland. He was honorably discharged on April 14, 1965.

In 1954, Joe met Eva Lea Bradley and the couple was united in marriage on February 4, 1955, in Olathe, Kansas. Two sons were born to this union. Eva Lea passed away May 5, 2008.

After serving in the Navy, Joe returned to Kansas with his young family. He began working as a general contractor building numerous homes and he also enjoyed farming some land in Kansas.

After 20 years, Joe and Eva Lea moved to Arkansas where Joe continued farming and worked at Tyson Chicken in Berryville. Joe was proud to retire from Tyson Chicken in 2010. After Eva Lea passed away, Joe moved back to his home town of Mountain Grove.

Joe was known to many as a generous, loyal and honest person. He attended the First Baptist Church of Mountain Grove as long as health permitted.

Besides his parents and wife, Joe was preceded in death by his siblings, Betty Jean Rippee, Farris Austin, Mable Austin, and Bert Austin; and his dear friend, Lucy Harms.

Joe is survived by his sons, Bruce Austin and wife, Jeannette, of Lenexa, Kansas, and Jeff Austin of Bruner, Missouri; three grandchildren, Kyle Austin and wife, Nickey, Lesley Smith and husband, Shane, and Missy Newlin and husband, Troy; three step-grandchildren, David Neal and wife, Soomin, Clayton Neal and wife, Ruth, and Tyler Booth and fiancé, Brianna; five great-grandchildren, Charlie, Silas, Jade, Paige, and Zane; four step-great-grandchildren, Daphne, Lauren, Elijah, and Jacob; and two great-great-grandsons, Maxwell and Jeriah.

Joe is also survived by a host of other friends, family and neighbors but of special mention is the family of Lucy Harms: Teresa Zieber and husband, David, Rhonda Horton, and their children and grandchildren.

Joe will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.