Eva "Marie" Austin
March 28, 2013
Marie Austin, 83, was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus on Thursday, March 28, 2013. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street with burial following at Glendale Cemetery. A visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, April 1, at the funeral home.
Marie was born December 9, 1929 in Des Moines to Earl and Eva Wyckoff. Marie loved the Lord and Music from an early age. She was Saved and Baptized on August 12, 1946, and coincidentally was married to Chuck on August 12, 1954. She started singing with Arthur Veach and his chord organ, on street corners, at the City Jail and at the old Gospel Tabernacle and Grace Baptist Church when very young. While living in Coon Rapids, MN in 1962, she started a Community Chorus.
After returning to Des Moines in 1975, she directed the Southtown Pentecostal Assembly Church Choir for 25 years which sang at several outside events, directed the Easter and Christmas musicals, the Children’s Choir for VBS, Church Camp and Holiday sings.
She formed a women’s monthly prayer group “Women for the Lord” and held monthly meetings, with outside speakers at Bishops and Village Inn on Army Post Road, until suffering a heart breaking stroke in 1999.
Marie is survived by her husband of 58 years, Rev. Chuck Austin; daughters, Vickie (Bill) Aasland, Melody (Kevin) Livengood, Leslie Myers, Linda (Ben) Patrick; son, Rev. Mark (Patty) Austin; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and sister, Jean LeDent. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Phyllis Stutes; brothers, Fran, Paul and Don Wyckoff and sisters, Virginia Evans and Joan Frederick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to local charities such as the Variety Club, Younkers Tea Room, and Gideons will be directed by the family.
Online condolences may be sent to www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Gary McCoy
04/02/2013
Chuck, Mark and family, so sorry to hear about Marie's passing. She was a beautiful lady who embodied what it means to be an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I only wish I could be there for the service because I know it will be a glorious celebration of her homecoming to Heaven.
Bob Brichetto \ Hockenberg Rubin
04/02/2013
Chuck I was sorry to read about the loss of your wife. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Ken&Rachel Britt
03/30/2013
We are sorry to hear of Marie's passing , I have met her but did not know her but I feel like I did from all the stories that Karen has told ,she loved her Aunt Marie and has told me about how beautiful she was and the beautiful clothes she wore and of her singing career please know that we care and just want to say . For the Christian ,Heaven is a place called H-O-M-E.
Bill Lapham
03/30/2013
Chuck, sorry for your loss. I will be unable to attend. I am on dialysis, but will be thinking about you. Sincerely, Bill Lapham
Pauline Kozak
03/29/2013
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His Face, the one who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me to the Promised Land, what a day, glorious day, that will be! I am sure it was a glorious day when Aunt Marie got to see her Jesus face to face. Her faith and love was an inspiration to us all and she will be greatly missed. I am so proud and honored to have her for my Aunt! My prayers and sympathy go out to Uncle Chuck and the family. Love you guys!
Nancy Baker
03/29/2013
What a blessing it was to have Aunt Marie in my life! She was an amazing woman and was so special. She had the ability to talk to you and understand you in ways others could not. I will miss her calls. God just gained another angel! I will miss her deeply. I pray God wraps his loving arms around my Uncle Chuck and cousins Vicky, Melody & Mark and gives them peace and comfort now and in the future!! My love to you all!!
Mary Westfall
03/29/2013
My prayers for strength and care for all the family.