Obituary of Luanna May Austin

No visitation Luanna May Austin It is said that when a person dies, a whole universe dies with them. On July 1st, at 8:00 AM, our mom, Luanna May Austin, passed away after a short struggle with cancer, at her home, surrounded by her three kids, Ian, Christina, and Dan. My mom was a fairly simple person: she loved her kids, she loved politics, she loved clothes, she loved saving stuff, and she dreamed of climbing mountains. Although she often thought of returning to Hot Springs, Montana, where she was born on September 15th, 1935 and raised on a cattle ranch by her parents, Lou and May Page, along with her younger sister and brother Elaine and Doug, her heart (and body) was in Olympia, Washington, where she lived most of her life. After attending the University of Montana in Missoula, she and her sister Elaine traveled to Olympia for a brief stay before returning back to Montana, where she met her future husband, Richard David Austin. They married on September 4th, 1958 at the family ranch in Montana but fate being what it was, my mom and dad went back to Olympia, where they lived most of their lives until they separated and divorced. My mom returned to school at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, earning two Bachelor of Arts and one Masters of Public Administration degrees all while teaching English as a Second Language at South Puget Sound Community College. She later retired from teaching and finished out her working career at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services as a Human Resources specialist. Olympia fit her in a way that Montana couldn't, although she never forgot the plains, the hills, or the quiet. My mom was renowned for her stubbornness, her niceness, her propensity for intense discussions, her ability to spend wisely (and with deliberation), her organizational skills, and her dedication to both the local chapters of the Mountaineers and the Democratic party, where she taught courses, went on hikes, and served as a Precinct Officer. She chose the known over the unknown, and in so doing, gave her life to her kids. When she gave she did so with grace. She was a beautiful woman. A few of her friends and family: Marilyn Miller, Barbara and Harvey Williamson, Bronwyn Vincent, her sister Elaine, her brother Doug, her three kids, Ian, Christina, and Dan, her daughter-in-law Lisa Pacheco, her son-in-law Bob Airhart, and her ex-husband Dick all survive her. It is important for our mom to be remembered. Memorial services with reception following will be held at the Masonic Center at 455 North Street SE in Tumwater, Washington on July 10th at 2 PM and at the Lonepine Cemetery and Hall in Lonepine, Montana on August 4th at 2 PM. Please leave your memories and condolences for the family by cicking "View Guestbook" below.