Stuart Eugene Austin

November 19, 1931 – September 28,2024

Stuart passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday September 28, 2024, at the age of 93. Born in Yakima to Harold and Alice Austin, Stuart grew up and spent his entire life in the Yakima area. He graduated from Yakima High School and Central Washington University, with a BA degree in Education. Stuart started his career as a 4th grade teacher. He moved on to work for Boise Cascade, White Swan Lumber, Pacific Lumber and Sales, before moving into private forestry contracting. Stuart retired after suffering a stroke in 2006 at the age of 74.

He married Dorothy Zander in Yakima in 1959. Together they raised a family of four children. Stuart loved the outdoors. His work took him into the mountains daily and his love of hunting and fishing kept him going back. He loved to head to the family cabin on Rimrock Lake each fall to hunt deer and elk with family and friends. Taking trips to Salmon Idaho for deer hunting and Soldotna, Alaska for fishing with his boys were always the highlight of the year.

Stuart would drive around the state delivering Christmas trees to family, saying “I happened to be in the neighborhood and thought I would drop these off”. He loved to work in his workshop in the basement on projects, adding additions onto his house and helping others always kept him busy. During his time working with the forest service while in high school and college, Stuart help build a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.

After his stroke the doctors gave him six months to live and said he would never walk again. He proved them wrong for another 18 years, that we were blessed to have in our lives. His spirit to beat the odds was how he lived his life. Always facing challenges head on with a positive outlook.

There was never a person met that didn’t walk away thinking they had made a new friend. His easy-going spirit and true comforting demeanor were a constant that kept others appreciative of him. Walk into a diner in Southeast Idaho, and someone inevitably would yell out “Gene!” He was someone you would not want to forget.

Stuart is survived by his wife Dorothy of 65 years, daughter Lisa (Clay) Bezenek of Ketchikan, and sons Greg (Sharla) Austin of Chelan, Steve Austin of Sammamish and Jeff Austin (Mary) of Cle Elum. Grandchildren – Eric Bezenek, Sydney Austin, Kirsta Herring, Darcy Austin, Alisa Collier, Kyle Austin, Camden Austin and one great grandchild, Miles Collier. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Alice; sister Bev Eliason, brothers Charles and Bud Austin.

A “Poppa Party” will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Langevin Funeral Home 09:30am with a celebration after services at Poppa's house the rest of the evening.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Yakima fire department.

Please express your thoughts and memories online at Langevin Funeral Home, www.dignitymemorial.com.