Ernest Gene Austin UPDATED

Ernest Eugene “Gene” Austin, 68, of Liberal, Kansas passed away July 22, 2015 at his home in Liberal.

He was born to Gilbert Eugene and Grace E. Austin on September 23, 1946, in Lamar, Colorado. Gene and Evelyn Anne Hart were married on January 15, 1986, at the Sheriff’s Office of Morton County, Kansas. She survives.

His most entertaining moments was playing the trap set for his dad’s band and any other band that he could play the drums with. He still owned the original drums that he played while playing music with his father’s band.

After graduating from high school in Lamar, Colorado, he served his country honorably with the National Guard of Colorado. He then enlisted in the Air Force as a dog handler at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado.

He was a certified law enforcement officer in Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. He was an officer in Lamar and Gunnison, Colorado, also in Elkhart, Morton County, Liberal and Seward County, Kansas. He had also worked in Hooker, Oklahoma. He always said his greatest accomplishment was graduating from Seward County Community College on May 23, 1993, with an Associates of Applied Science in Criminal Justice. After forty-five years in law enforcement, Gene Austin retired on April 30, 2013.

He is survived by one brother, Michael Austin (Janet) of Farmers Branch, Texas. He is also survived by three daughters: Pamela Kay Baldwin (Dana) of Elkhart, Kansas; Debera Kay Williams of Milliken, Colorado, and Barbara Jean McCallion of Elkhart, Kansas. Surviving also are seven grandchildren, Tannan Baldwin, Garrett Baldwin, Brandon Williams, Christopher Williams, Micheal McCallion, Cherokee Rankin and Gerico McCallion. Also surviving is one step-daughter, Tracie L Robinson, Colton, California, and many more relatives and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister (Charlotte).

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 o’clock on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at the Elmhurst Cemetery, Guymon, Oklahoma with Rev. Rex Petty officiating. Military rites conducted by American Legion Post 80 of Liberal, Kansas.

The family requests no flowers, but does request in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the American Legion, Post Number 80, P O Box 951, 25 West Third, Liberal, KS 67901. Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker, Oklahoma is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at www.robertsbrothersfuneralhome.com