Kirk Brough Austin, 89, of Parsons, died at 4:10 p.m., Saturday, January 27, 2007 at the Parsons Good Samaritan Center where he had resided since July 2006.
He was born May 26, 1917 on a ranch, in the Kansas Flint Hills near Strong City, to Earl and Maude (Brough) Austin. He grew up in Emporia, attending schools there including the former Kansas State Teachers College, currently Emporia State University.
He served in the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army in World War II and was a life member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He was first employed by the B. F. Goodrich Company at Blackwell, Oklahoma and later became a store manager with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He was transferred by Firestone to Parsons in that capacity in 1944.
In 1948, he and his wife purchased the business of George Loeb and founded Kirk Austin's Dry Goods, later to be named Kirk Austin's Fabrics. It continued in operation for 43 years; first at 1720 Main, then 1829 Main and finally in a building they had constructed at 1401 Main. They closed the business and retired in the summer of 1991. During retirement, he and Mrs. Austin visited 47 of the lower 48 states as well as part of Canada and Mexico.
He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and was affiliated locally with the First United Methodist Church, and later the Wesley United Methodist Church. He was presently a member of Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M., the Parsons Chapter 39, Royal Arch Masons, Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17, Knights Templar; the Fort Scott Consistory, and Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg, past President of the Parsons Kiwanis Club and served as a member of the Parsons School Board.
On March 16, 1941, he and Barbara Eloise Pyle were married at the Grace Methodist Church in Emporia, Kansas. She survives.
SURVIVORS:
Wife - Barbara Austin Parsons, KS
One Son - T. J. Austin Oklahoma City, OK
Three Daughters – Virginia Constance Lawrence, KS
Nancy Swanwick Fort Scott, KS
Carolyn Austin Lynnwood, WA
Eight Grandchildren
Four Great-Grandchildren
He was preceded in death by one granddaughter.
Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 3, 2007 at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in the family plot at Maplewood Cemetery in Emporia, Kansas. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Good Samaritan Center. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kirk Brough Austin, please visit our flower store.
He was born May 26, 1917 on a ranch, in the Kansas Flint Hills near Strong City, to Earl and Maude (Brough) Austin. He grew up in Emporia, attending schools there including the former Kansas State Teachers College, currently Emporia State University.
He served in the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army in World War II and was a life member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He was first employed by the B. F. Goodrich Company at Blackwell, Oklahoma and later became a store manager with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He was transferred by Firestone to Parsons in that capacity in 1944.
In 1948, he and his wife purchased the business of George Loeb and founded Kirk Austin's Dry Goods, later to be named Kirk Austin's Fabrics. It continued in operation for 43 years; first at 1720 Main, then 1829 Main and finally in a building they had constructed at 1401 Main. They closed the business and retired in the summer of 1991. During retirement, he and Mrs. Austin visited 47 of the lower 48 states as well as part of Canada and Mexico.
He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and was affiliated locally with the First United Methodist Church, and later the Wesley United Methodist Church. He was presently a member of Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M., the Parsons Chapter 39, Royal Arch Masons, Coeur de Lion Commandery No. 17, Knights Templar; the Fort Scott Consistory, and Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg, past President of the Parsons Kiwanis Club and served as a member of the Parsons School Board.
On March 16, 1941, he and Barbara Eloise Pyle were married at the Grace Methodist Church in Emporia, Kansas. She survives.
SURVIVORS:
Wife - Barbara Austin Parsons, KS
One Son - T. J. Austin Oklahoma City, OK
Three Daughters – Virginia Constance Lawrence, KS
Nancy Swanwick Fort Scott, KS
Carolyn Austin Lynnwood, WA
Eight Grandchildren
Four Great-Grandchildren
He was preceded in death by one granddaughter.
Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 3, 2007 at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in the family plot at Maplewood Cemetery in Emporia, Kansas. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Good Samaritan Center. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kirk Brough Austin, please visit our flower store.
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