Jesse Austin

Services are scheduled at 10:00 A.M. Friday, May 13, at First Baptist Church of Artesia for Jesse Thomas Austin, of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Mr. Austin, 87, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at Casa De Oro Care Center in Las Cruces. Leo Pennington will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled at Terpening Son Mortuary Thursday beginning at 10:00 A.M. Pallbearers will be Ernie LeClear, Nathan LeClear, Roger Tucker, Frank Ripple, Tommy Billings, Boon Ray Tucker, and Jack Butler. Mr. Austin was born January 17, 1918 in Altas, Oklahoma; the son of Willie B. Austin and Bertha Mixon Austin. On Sept. 3, 1948 he was married to Vera Inez Martin in Roswell, New Mexico. He was a longtime resident of the Artesia area since 1960 until moving to Las Cruces in 1999. Vera preceded him in death February 11, 2000. He served in the United States Army during World War II and received an honorable discharge in 1943. Mr. Austin worked as a driller in the oilfield and was a pipe-fitter until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of First Baptist Church, and member of the Plumbers Pipe-fitters Union for over 40 years. He was preceded in death by a daughter Connie 0. Austin in 1968, his parents; two sisters; and a brother. Survivors include son Thomas W. Austin and wife Terri of Las Cruces; three daughters Debbie LeClear and husband Ernie of Lubbock, Texas, Naomi Ruth Austin of Las Cruces, and Paula Austin- Gunlock and husband Michael of Kerrville, Texas; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.