Gary Forrest Austin

Son of Leon and Eunice Austin. Loving husband of Lillian, loving father of James and his grandson Ryker. He was born in Dover, New Hampshire and moved to Florida in his youth and lived his adult life after his Air Force service in St. Petersburg. Florida.
Gary is survived by his wife Lillian, his son James, his grandson Ryker, and brother Paul (Linda). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his special canine, Oreo. His parents Leon and Eunice, and his brother Mark predeceased Gary.
Gary passed away peacefully on April 23 after a long battle with cancer after his multiple exposures to Agent Orange during the Viet Nam era. He was surrounded by his wife, son, grandson and Oreo. Prior to his passing, he was able to visit by phone or in person with his beloved family members that came to visit him. It meant the world to him to do so.
He enlisted in the US Air Force following high school graduation. He was a Load Master and had the rank of Sargeant. He served at various US Air Force bases including Dover AFB, Travis AFB and Wheelus AFB in Tripoli, Libya. He also volunteered covertly to take to Khe Sanh via Cam Ranh Bay much needed ammunition that was running low. He knew that his Brothers and Sisters in Arms were in great peril without this shipment. As he was there covertly for several weeks, it is not noted in his DD214; thus, he became a forgotten Nam Vet. His Agent Orange exposure not only came from the bases he served at, but military aircraft he loaded and unloaded. Gary was also a part of the Red Ball Express. In addition to fulfilling the Red Ball orders, he and his unit would redirect much needed personal items and food to various boots-on-ground units to make sure their needs were met. He also helped to provide necessities to the Native Southern Vietnamese that were helping our US Military. He cherished a handmade copper bracelet they made for him in gratitude. Gary also suffered from PTSD.
Gary loved nature and being outdoors. He loved his weekly hikes at nature parks with his son and wife, as well as hitting the beach for swimming and body surfing; he taught many children how to body surf. His home had beautiful gardens with water features that homed many creatures including endangered and threatened species. He was so proud of that. He also had a property management/landscape/lawn service that is very respected, and he was very proud of the numerous awards his business received for the landscape designs he created. Gary also had a huge passion for deep space and spent many hours on his telescope and helped to support the Carl Sagan Observatory. He also loved to play various games and bowl before not being able to due to illness.
Gary was very proud of his son James and worked hard to support him in his amateur and professional fighting as well as his musical adventures never missing a major milestone. He loved the man and father his son became.
Gary and Lillian had a very strong and loving relationship and were each other's best friends, soul mates and partners in life and business. Throughout the years he supported Lillian in her professional life and supported her martial arts training, competing, teaching and coaching. He helped to create the framework for Lillian and James' success and was thrilled and proud when Lillian and James were inducted into the International Black Hall of Fame.
Gary requested a private funeral.