1952
Richard
2015
Richard Austin
May 10, 1952 — April 20, 2015
Richard Buford Austin, 62, of Madison, Ala., died Monday after an illness.
A proud son of Forest, Miss., Richard was a gifted athlete with a poet’s soul and indomitable spirit whose boundless optimism and easy, friendly way left everyone feeling better whenever he was around. We will all miss him and his irresistible smile and laugh.
Richard graduated from Forest High School in 1970 and attended Millsaps College and Mississippi State University before earning a degree in pharmacy from Samford University. He had a long career as a pharmacist in Mississippi and Alabama.
He is survived by his wife, Nan, son Nathan and his wife Sharla; son Shelton and his wife Katie; daughter Ashley; stepdaughter Amanda Briggs and her husband James; stepdaughter Slyvia Clark; and two beautiful grandchildren with two more on the way.
He is also survived by his mother, Opal Wilkes Austin, sister Sue Thigpen and her husband Jim; brother Ace and his wife Dockery; sister Judy Webb and her husband Joe; and brother Terry and his wife Kitty, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Dr. J.W. Austin.
Richard was a star member of Forest football, baseball, basketball and track teams. He was a dedicated professional and loving husband, father and friend. He loved the outdoors and he loved his family. He provided special attention to Mama O in recent years. She (and he) looked forward to the visits by Richard and his little dog Canon. We all will cherish the comforting time they spent together.
We mourn his passing, but we celebrate his wonderful life of caring, compassion and good-natured charm and good will. We can continue his legacy by being thoughtful and helpful in everyday life.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at Ott and Lee, followed by a graveside service at Eastern Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be David Gaddis, Freddy Bagley, Evan Thompson, Bubby Johnston, James Briggs and Jesse Cooper.
Memorials may be made to pancreatic cancer research at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, or to Forest United Methodist Church.
Funeral services provided by Ott & Lee Funeral Home of Forest, MS.
Tel. (601) 469-3412
A proud son of Forest, Miss., Richard was a gifted athlete with a poet’s soul and indomitable spirit whose boundless optimism and easy, friendly way left everyone feeling better whenever he was around. We will all miss him and his irresistible smile and laugh.
Richard graduated from Forest High School in 1970 and attended Millsaps College and Mississippi State University before earning a degree in pharmacy from Samford University. He had a long career as a pharmacist in Mississippi and Alabama.
He is survived by his wife, Nan, son Nathan and his wife Sharla; son Shelton and his wife Katie; daughter Ashley; stepdaughter Amanda Briggs and her husband James; stepdaughter Slyvia Clark; and two beautiful grandchildren with two more on the way.
He is also survived by his mother, Opal Wilkes Austin, sister Sue Thigpen and her husband Jim; brother Ace and his wife Dockery; sister Judy Webb and her husband Joe; and brother Terry and his wife Kitty, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Dr. J.W. Austin.
Richard was a star member of Forest football, baseball, basketball and track teams. He was a dedicated professional and loving husband, father and friend. He loved the outdoors and he loved his family. He provided special attention to Mama O in recent years. She (and he) looked forward to the visits by Richard and his little dog Canon. We all will cherish the comforting time they spent together.
We mourn his passing, but we celebrate his wonderful life of caring, compassion and good-natured charm and good will. We can continue his legacy by being thoughtful and helpful in everyday life.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Forest. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at Ott and Lee, followed by a graveside service at Eastern Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be David Gaddis, Freddy Bagley, Evan Thompson, Bubby Johnston, James Briggs and Jesse Cooper.
Memorials may be made to pancreatic cancer research at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, or to Forest United Methodist Church.
Funeral services provided by Ott & Lee Funeral Home of Forest, MS.
Tel. (601) 469-3412
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