Gene Autry Austin

1941 - 2018

Gene Autry Austin, "Bubba", 77, of Carver St., Carlsbad, NM, passed away on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at Lakeview Christian Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 30, 2018 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with Rev. R.L. Smith, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Carlsbad Cemetery (new section) with Military Honors provided by the Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be 1-8 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 29) at West Funeral Home.
Gene A. Austin was born on October 27, 1941 to Washington and Hallie Mae (Johnson) Austin in Malaga, NM.
Gene was raised and educated in Carlsbad, where he played basketball for CHS and graduated with the Class of 1960. After graduation he joined the Armed Forces, serving in the Military Police Division until his Honorable Discharge in 1965. Following his discharge, he moved to Compton, CA where he worked for Douglas Aircraft for 8 years, then later as a cashier and manager of Dee's Liquor Store for over 30 years, before resigning due to health reasons.
Gene was a cheerful, friendly, outgoing person and loved to do for others. He was lovingly called "Sergeant" and "Kit" by family and friends and will be sorely missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Joe Mack Austin; sisters, Katie Wagoner and Lovie B. Kelly; stepson Kevin Clark; nieces: Elsie Rigsby, Katie Lewis and Yvette Austin and brothers-in-law, Harvey Day, Henry Wagoner, Rev. A.D. Burton, Cecil Coleman, Ermon L. Roberts and Talton W. Williams.
He leaves to mourn his best friend Ruby Lowe; son Gene Austin, Jr.; stepsons Chevelle and Michael Clark, all of Los Angeles, CA; sisters: Mildred Colter and Ada Burton of Carlsbad, NM, Bettye Rogers of Indio, CA, Rebecca Day of McDonough, GA and Naomi Jackson of Delray Beach, FL; brothers: Washington Austin, Jr. of Houston, TX, Henry Austin of Carlsbad, NM and Alvin Austin of Carson, CA; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of extended relatives and friends.
Pallbearers will be Steve Austin, Terrance Austin, Ashley Austin, Terry Austin, Andre Day, Yon Austin and Patrick Renfro.
Honorary Pallbearers: John Wooten, Gene Austin, Jr., Eggleston Young, James Bowman, Henry Lee Austin, Washington Austin, Jr., Alvin Austin, Mike Wagoner, M.J. Pirtle and Virgil Grant.
The family wishes to thank you all for your prayers and calls. Services have been entrusted to West Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at westfuneralhomellc.com