Obituary of Hazel Juanita Austin

Hazel Juanita Austin, formerly of Coffeyville, KS passed away Sunday, November 27, 2016 in Fort Scott, KS, where she lived since 2013 with her sister and brother-in-law, Claude and Phyllis Norris. Services were held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 29, 2016 in Coffeyville at the First United Methodist Church where she was a long standing member. Miss Austin was born January 9, 1925 in Liberty, KS to Archie and Juanita Austin. She graduated from Neodesha, KS High School and Pittsburg State University. She started her long teaching career in Elk City, KS in a one room school at the age of 18. She retired after teaching first grade for forty years at Garfield School in Coffeyville. Miss Austin volunteered at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and did extensive work for the Salvation Army. After her retirement, Miss Austin traveled with fellow teachers across the United States and abroad. She formed a group of retired teachers who met monthly. She enjoyed growing flowers and had a salt and pepper shaker collection of over 200, a large collection of angels and over 100 coffee mugs from her travels. Miss Austin leaves her sister, Phyllis Norris, fourteen nieces and nephews by whom she will be missed and remembered lovingly. She was very present in her family's lives and took great pride in them all. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Merle, Victor, Harold and Albert Austin. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Fort Scott Mercy Hospital Hospice and to the Salvation Army and may be left at the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 N. Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.