Margaret Eloise Austin

Margaret Eloise Austin, 92, of Severy, Kansas, passed away at her home, September 14, 2014, surrounded by all of her children. Born July 23, 1922, to John H. and Maude (Schappel) Jones, in Wichita, Kansas, the first of 3 children, Eloise, Mary Ruth (Spencer) and Evan M. Jones. Eloise grew up and attended schools in Wichita, including 2 years at Friends University. She joined the war effort in 1942 working at Beechcraft. She met her future husband, Robert Leon Austin, of Rosalia, Kansas, in 1940, and they married after the war on December 23, 1945, and moved to Peck, Kansas, where they farmed and started their family; Roberta Fay, followed by Jack Ray. The family then moved to Towanda, KS where they farmed and here Charles Miles and Rebecca Rose were born. In 1953, the family moved to Severy, KS, where Robert Lyn, Alice Rogene and Mark Duane were born. Eloise and “Bert”, continued farming, raising cattle and trucking during the next several years, Eloise managed Austin’s café at the Severy Junction. In the late 1960’s, Eloise ventured into healthcare, working first at Fredonia Mercy and then ending her nursing career at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, in 1989. Along the way, there were many expansions to her family. Her legacy includes 24 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 10 great-greats. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister and husband. Eloise has long been a member the Severy Nazarene Church since moving there in 1953. She was one of the first members of the church and held many posts over the years. The church, and her love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, led her to have her children in church every Sunday. Eloise also belonged to the Lend-a-Hand Club, and the UMW. She was also one of the founding members of the “unofficial” Severy Ladies Coffee Club. Her sunny disposition, ready smile and genuine interest in others were traits that characterized her. She loved people and was always quick to turn conversations to how the other person was doing – not how she was doing, even as she grew more and more ill. Eloise‘s hobbies and interests included quilting, gardening, fishing, and seeing new places, but her truest pleasure was spending time with her family and her friends. Her zest for life has left many beautiful memories for her entire family to cherish. There will be a visitation on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Ks. Funeral services will be at the Severy Nazarene Church on Wednesday morning Sept. 17th at 10:00am. Memorials have been established with Severy Nazarene Church, the Severy Senior Center, and Asera Care Hospice.

Margaret Eloise Austin

July 23, 1922 - September 14, 2014