Amy Austin passed into her eternal rest during the early morning hours of Thursday, 27 February 2020 at Bay Breeze Senior Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gulf Breeze, Florida. She was born in Weston, West Virginia on 30 October, 1943 to the parents of Thomas and Matilda Egan. Amy was preceded in death by her first husband Daniel Ward Miller. She remarried in 1991 and again was subsequently widowed by Ronald Austin on 31 March 1998. She devoted her life towards helping and ensuring the wellbeing of young people. This was greatly evidenced by her earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Valdosta State University and filling positions as Teacher and Guidance Counselor for multiple school systems in Georgia and Florida. She was most recently active in Okaloosa County at Crestview and Fort Walton Beach High Schools. She retired in September 2001 after 26 years of faithful service in the field of education. She stayed busy and close to her family by working as a realtor with her sister Rose Marie Benson at Sea Oats Realty. Continuing her love for life, Amy really looked forward to boating at Crab Island and the Gulf of Mexico on most weekends, as well as camping and fishing with family and friends.
Amy was a most generous and loving Southern GRIT (Girl Raised in the South). Her cooking was the event highlight every weekend while hosting football viewing gatherings at her home in Navarre. She would always put others needs ahead of her own. Working mostly as a single mom, her daughters would always have whatever they needed to succeed and thrive.
Amy is survived by her aforementioned sister Rose Marie Benson, daughters Deborah Miller and husband Donald, Julie Decker and husband Michael. Grandsons James Culver, Andrew and Kevin Decker, also nephews Thomas Burke and wife Keiko, John Burke, and Daniel Burke with wife Donna, as well as extended family members and friends.
There will be a small ceremony with family while placing her remains in an eco-friendly urn into a local body of water where she frequented. Amy’s smile will be held in our hearts and minds forever.
Thank you goes out to Bay Breeze Senior Living and Rehabilitation Center, to Davis Watkins Funeral Home and a special appreciation and gratitude to Crystal at Emerald Coast Hospice for her excellent and compassionate care.
To share memories, express condolences and sign the guestbook please visit www.daviswatkins.com.
An excerpt from a poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis:
“To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more –
And love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.”