Obituary of Mary Ellen (Brea) Austin

Mary Ellen (Brea) Austin, 88, of Ardmore, Okla. passed peacefully Tuesday afternoon, April 25, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, May 1st, 2023, at The Chapel at Griffin-Hillcrest with the Pastor Donny Custar officiating. Interment to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Born June 19, 1934, in Stuart, Oklahoma, She was the daughter of Jacob R. Lackey and Brookie (Spears) Lackey. She was the youngest of five children and the only girl. She was married to Wayne Leroy Austin on December 24, 1950, in Hughes Oklahoma. She was a secretary for the state department of Education where she also retired from after many years of service. Mary had a wonderful sense of humor and will be remembered for her tenacity and quick wit. She enjoyed being a member of Emmanuel Baptist church in Ardmore, OK. She lived in many cities and towns across the southwestern United States but found a home that she loved and a community she cared for in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She would volunteer her time and service to the Hope Pregnancy Center in her spare time. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, and watching basketball, softball, and golf. Her favorite team to support was the University of Oklahoma. She was an active member of the Carter County Extension Homemakers and Triangle. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne Austin, Ardmore OK, a son Kenny Wayne Austin, Ardmore, OK, and brothers, Louis Lackey, Nolan Lackey, Herman Lackey and Ken Lackey, a special sister-in-law, Hallie Hatley Lackey. She loved and cherished her many pets that passed before her including Brandy the poodle, Brittany the Boston and Miss Truffles the Boston. She is survived by a daughter, Teri Austin of Ardmore, Ok, granddaughter Schuyler Riggs, and Husband James Riggs of Ardmore, OK. Pallbearers will be Schuyler Riggs and James Riggs with the assistance of the funeral home staff. The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the staff of Elmbrook Suites, Elmbrook Long-term care, Mercy Senior Behavioral Health, Cross Timbers Hospice, and Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home.