Leland Levaughn Austin

Leland Levaughn “Von” Austin, son of the late Leroy “Roy” and Myrtle (Veneble) Austin, was born November 30, 1924 in Manes, Missouri, and departed this life April 13, 2017 at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, Missouri, after a three month residency with Country Living Assisted Living. He was 92 years, 4 months, and 14 days of age.
Von grew up near Manes and went to school at Crisptown School, north of Manes, until the 8th grade. He then attended Mountain Grove High School and graduated in 1944. During high school, he enjoyed playing football and dating June Rae Heeger.
The day after graduation, Von joined the Navy. He married his high school sweetheart, June, on October 7, 1944 in Los Angeles, California. Shortly afterward, he was deployed to the South Pacific, where he served during World War II. He returned home the summer of 1946 and he and June made their home in Mountain Grove. Two children were born to this union, Keith and Nancy.
Von worked at various jobs in and around Mountain Grove before joining his brother, Gene, in an excavation construction business. After 30 years, he retired to the family farm north of Manes on the Gasconade River. During retirement, Von greatly enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing, gardening, and cattle farming.
He and June attended Trinity United Methodist Church while living in Mountain Grove and then attended New Home and Evening Shade churches after retirement.
Besides his parents, Von was preceded in death by his wife on April 5, 2009, and by his brother, Harold Eugene Austin.
He is survived by his son, Keith Austin and his wife, Barbara, of Springdale, Arkansas, his daughter, Nancy Austin-Brockett and her husband, Mike, of Temecula, California, three grandchildren, Jason Austin, Angela Austin, and Amanda Austin-Fields, three great-grandchildren, Noah, Nicholas, and Lily, and other relatives, friends, and neighbors who will miss him very much.