Joyce Austin

Joyce graduated from John Tyler High School in May 1946 and married the love of her life, Frank Austin, on August 29th of the same year. The Austin's had four children, and moved quite a bit for work before settling in Baytown in 1952. Joyce was a loving wife and homemaker who spent almost 70 years caring for her children, grandchildren, and even her most recent great grandchild. When she wasn't caring for children and her home, Mrs. Austin enjoyed gardening, sewing, talk show programs, and traveling. In her later years Mrs. Austin found joy in manicures, weekly trips to the salon, traveling to her family lake house in Canyon Lake to see the deer, attending parties with her daughter's Girl's Night Out group, and fussing over the puppy dogs in her home.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Frank M. Austin, parents, Louis and Georgia Bartels, siblings Sarah Mitchell, Louis Bartels Jr., Ruth Mitchell, and Barbra Corbett.

Joyce is survived by her four children, sons Larry Austin (Joyce) of Sante Fe, Terry Austin (Rosie) of Baytown, and Billy Austin (Rhonda) of Houston, and daughter Frances Thompson of Baytown. Grandchildren Jennifer Koenig (David) of Longview, Kimberly May of Baytown, KK Hollway (Scott) of Mexia, Amy Austin of Channelview, SGT Aaron Austin (Konkista) of Fairbanks, Alaska, Kendall Thompson-Kinsey (SPC Colin T.) of Clarksville, Tennessee, Christopher Thompson of Baytown, and Kody Austin of Houston. Great Grandchildren Tanner, Hayden and Ashlyn Koenig, Talon and Piper May, Coker and Hunt Holloway, Justin Gill, Jonathan White, Destany and Isaiah Gonzalez, and Austin Kinsey. Mrs. Austin is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and special friends.

The family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Wednesday March 11, 2015 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. Graveside services will be held Thursday March 12, 2015 at 2:00PM at Cedarcrest Cemetery with Rev. Bill Ingram officiating.

Pallbearers are Christopher Thompson, Kody Austin, Gary Corbett, Kline Lander, Billy Holt, and Randy Smeasny. Honorary pallbearers are SGT Aaron Austin and SPC Colin T. Kinsey.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mrs. Austin's friend and companion, Tearsa Smesney, for all of her wonderful love and care for Mrs. Austin right up until the moment of her passing. Mrs. Austin enjoyed lunch dates and Dr. Phil with Tearsa, but her favorite was listing to Tearsa sing along to old country classics like Patsy Cline's ""Walking After Midnight"", for which they shared the same curiosity over why Mrs. Cline was doing something as dangerous as walking around late at night.

Thanks would also like to be extended to San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, San Jacinto Methodist Skilled Nursing, Faith Community Hospice, and caregivers Jessica Kelly, Nanette Bernard, Norma Garcia, and Betty Hadnott for their care of Mrs. Austin in her last few years on this earth.

In lieu of other remembrances, the family asks that donations be made to the Tyler Rose Garden in Mrs. Austin's name. Checks may be mailed to the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 South Rose Park Dr. Tyler, TX 75702.

To view her online obituary, or post a tribute to her family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521, (281) 422-8111.