Jerry Wayne Austin

Friday, December 4, 2020

Jerry Wayne Austin died in his home on December 4, 2020. He was 74 years old.

Jerry was born to Margaret Mitchell Austin and Roy “Cecil” Austin in Blytheville, AR, on September 18, 1946. He was an avid Arkansas Razorback fan.

Jerry’s early years were spent in Dell, AR, where he was regarded as a tremendous athlete. A 1965 graduate of Dell High School, he proudly lettered in basketball and track for the Blue Devils and earned a scholarship to play basketball at ASU-Beebe. He later transferred and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1970 where he also lettered in basketball, baseball and track for the Bears. He recently received his medal for being in the UCA Half-Century Club.

In 1970, he was drafted into the United States Army where he was trained as a combat medic and a reconnaissance expert.

His education did not stop at UCA. He later earned two Master’s Degrees from Arkansas State University and spent his professional career as a teacher, counselor, and principal. But his true calling was basketball coach. He spent nearly 30 years teaching boys and girls the fundamentals of basketball, and of life. A newspaper once coined him, “The basketball mind of Northeast Arkansas,” and they were right.

In December 1970, Jerry married Sharon Edwards Austin of Tuscumbia, AL, and later had two children, Jeremy Austin and Courtney Austin Fisher. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Sharon, of their home in Jonesboro, AR, his sister Louise DuPree (Ray) of Huntsville, AL, his son Jeremy (Kristen) of Jonesboro, and daughter Courtney Fisher (Ben) of Blytheville. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jacob Austin, Cody Austin, Logan Davis, Emery Davis, Savannah Davis, Patrick Fisher, and Moses Fisher.

Chapel services will be 2 PM Wednesday at Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home, 1900 West Washington Avenue in Jonesboro with his children speaking. Private burial will follow at Pine Log Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 1 pm until time of service. The body will be lying repose from 10 am until 1 pm for those who would like to sign the guestbook but are unable to attend the visitation or service. No family will be present at this time.

Memorials can be sent to the Books for Jan Program at the Blytheville Chamber Foundation, 300 W. Main Street, Blytheville, AR.