Doris Florence Austin

Doris Florence (Kidder) Austin was born on September 17, 1926 in Elgin, Illinois, the daughter of Hugh Herschel Kidder and Lillian Agnes (Pearson) Kidder. Family and friends referred to her as “Dotty,” “Dottie,” or “Dot.”

A year after her birth, Dot and her parents moved to Brownsville, Texas, where her parents had lived previously. Her father was a long-time employee of Pan American Airways in the early days of aviation. Brownsville became Dot’s place of residence for just over half a century.

Dot graduated from El Jardin High School in Brownsville in 1942 as class valedictorian four months before her sixteenth birthday.

In the final year of WWII, Dot joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. Three years later, in February 1948, she graduated from the Medical & Surgical Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in San Antonio, Texas, and became a registered nurse. For the next 30 years (1948-1978) Dot worked as an R.N. at Mercy Hospital in Brownsville, primarily assisting with the delivery of babies. This hospital was operated by the Sisters of Mercy, and sometime during the 1950s Dot converted to Catholicism, largely due to the influence of the sisters with whom she worked.

In late 1978 Dot retired from Mercy Hospital, and on December 5, 1978 she married Gerald Austin, the widower of her Aunt Doris (for whom she was named). She and her mother then moved to La Mirada, California.

In early 1984 Doris and Gerald moved to Austin, Texas, and bought a house within walking distance of her stepson, Merrill Austin, and his family. Dot’s mother passed away in California the day that they moved into their new home. A year later, on May 10, 1985, Gerald passed away. Dot lived alone for the next 40 years.

On September 22, 2025, five days after her 99th birthday, Dot moved into assisted living at Brookdale North Austin. She was receiving hospice care during her final week and passed away on April 12, 2026, five months and five days short of her 100th birthday.

Dot is survived by stepson Merrill Austin (and wife Patricia) of Austin, Texas; stepdaughter Jennifer Elliott (and husband John) of Murietta, California; numerous step grandchildren, numerous step great grandchildren and two step great great grandchildren.

The family extends special thanks to Brookdale North Austin, Enhabit Health & Hospice, and Anabel Kuhr of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for their compassionate care.

Memorials may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 5909 Reicher Drive, Austin, Texas 78753 or the Austin Humane Society.