Edna M. "Grandma" Austin, 98, of Texico died 6:15 p.m. Aug. 30, 2005, at her home.

She was a former pie baker at Austin's Restaurants.

Mrs. Austin was born Feb. 27, 1907, in rural Mt. Vernon to Roston and Lily Mae (King) Minor.

She married Berthyl Austin Dec. 23, 1923, in Mt. Vernon; he preceded her in death Oct. 21, 1975.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Panther Fork Missionary Baptist Church. John Ashby and Bryan Austin will officiate. Burial will follow in Panther Fork Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Mrs. Austin is survived by sons Bert Austin Jr. and Alice of San Jose, Calif., R.C. Austin and Effie Mae of Dix and Lavern Austin and Betty of Mt. Vernon; daughters Velma Ullery of Texico and Patricia Connaway of Pinckneyville; daughters-in-law Marjorie B. Austin of Granite City and June Austin of Texico; 22 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; and sisters Oleta French of Mt. Vernon, Maxine Donoho of Salem, Merlene Smith of Dyersburg, Tenn., and Lily Wilson and Mary Smith, both of Mt. Vernon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sons Waymon and Marvie Austin; a son-in-law, Earl Ullery; grandsons Harold Connaway and Bryan E. Austin; a great-grandson, Michael Saupe; sisters Clara Myers, Greta Lowery and Dolly Simmons; and brothers Raymond Minor and Clifford Minor.

Mrs. Austin attended George College and Zion and Harmony grade schools in Jefferson County. She was the oldest living member of Panther Fork Missionary Baptist Church.

For more information, you may contact Osborn Funeral Home in Dix at 266-7231.

Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: September 13, 2005
Submitted by: Kiowana Hayes Ferguson