Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Mary Pauline Austin, (born Mary Pauline Crisp), a Worland resident, passed away on August 30, 2023, 12 days after her 104th birthday. Pauline was the only child of Robert and Mary Jane Dunwoody Crisp, born on August 18, 1919, near Allen Reed, Texas. Pauline grew up on her grandfather's cattle ranch. She rode her horse to attend school each day. Later, her father married Marguerite Merriman on September 12, 1928, and had Pauline and three half-sisters. After graduation from high school, Pauline graduated from Draughon's Business College in Lubbock, Texas, which subsequently provided her employment at a local bank.

In 1939, her father, Robert Crisp sold his ranch in the panhandle of Texas and relocated the family and ranching operations to New Mexico. During this time, Pauline obtained employment at a bank in Los Alamos, New Mexico. On February 12, 1949, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she married Robert B. Austin, and they moved to Worland where their son Dale, daughter Donna, and son Darrell were born.

Much of Pauline's life was that of a devoted wife, mother and homemaker in an Air Force family. Frequent reassignments were common and the family lived at many different Air Force locations within the Continental US, even as far as Libya North Africa. Pauline enjoyed meeting new people and friends, seeing new places and experiencing the new activities that came with travel. She enjoyed raising her three children, becoming a member of and participating in activities in the Officer's Wives Club, gardening, family trips to local attractions, and volunteering for school field trips.

Between 1960 and 1971, the family lived in various parts of New Mexico and Virginia, until Bob retired and they returned to settle in Wyoming. Bob purchased seven acres on West River Road near Worland, and together over the years Bob and Pauline transformed the badlands into a lushly landscaped home with green lawns, trees, and gardens full of flowers, roses, vegetables, and cantaloupe. They were well known in town for an abundance of delicious cantaloupes, vegetables, and prize-winning flowers for many years. Pauline continued to garden, embroider, and was active in the community, attending the Methodist church, the Worland Garden Club, and acting as President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion for several years. She maintained her love of gardening even after relocating into town and downsizing their house after her husband's health began to falter.

Pauline's husband Bob passed away on February 12, 2015. Pauline continued to live in her home on Yellowstone Avenue until the age of 99, when time finally caught up with her and she moved to the WHRC. Pauline passed away peacefully on August 30, 2023.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bob Austin; daughter, Donna Crawford; half-daughter, Roberta A. Page Coker; step-mother, Marguerite Crisp; half-sisters Gladys Kincheloe and Peggy Leavell; grand-son, Jake Austin; daughter-in-law, Roseanne Austin. Survivors include her sons, Dale Austin of Casper, Wyoming and Darrell Austin of Billings, Montana; son-in-law, Gordon Crawford of Ten Sleep, Wyoming; half-sister, Beth (Everett) Statler of Cleburne, Texas; half-daughter, Jo-Dee Austin of Jameson, Missouri; grandchildren: Hillary (Josh) Reichwald of Worland, Wyoming; Jarrod (Tina) Austin of Parker, Colorado, and John (Adele) Bihr; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Riverview Memorial Gardens followed by a luncheon at the First Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made to Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY, 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryant

funeralhomeonline.com.