1921-2003

FARMINGTON – Betty Marie Morton Austin, 82, died at her home in Farmington on Tuesday, Oct 7, of oral cancer. She was born in Farmington, August 8, 1921, the daughter of Lloyd B. and Gladys M. Matthieu Morton.

She was educated in Farmington schools and graduated from Westbrook Junior College in 1941 and from Boston University in 1943. On September 1, 1943, she married Nelson D. (Sonny) Austin. He died October 23, 2002. During their long and happy marriage, they enjoyed restoring the Jesse Gould farm, where they had resided since 1965. They particularly enjoyed their years of mutual care and use of the land with the Mt. Blue High School forestry program and the cross country teams.

She had a very full life, raising four children and helping with the care of all her grandchildren as well. She was a life-long scholar and a prolific reader. Antiquing, genealogy and gardening occupied many hours of her time. She was a talented quilter, rug braider and cake decorator, regularly supplying cakes for all family celebrations. She worked as librarian at the Farmington Public Library in Farmington from 1973 until her retirement in 1981.

Surviving are two daughters, Kathleen Kennedy and her husband Karl Newton of Syracuse, N.Y., and Chesterville and Marjorie Austin of Chesterville; two sons, Roger and his wife Betty Kennedy of Wales and Joseph and his wife Nancy of South Portland; eleven grandchildren, Anne Newton of Chesapeake, Va., Eugene Kennedy and Mack Newton of Washington, D.C., Karen Austin of Turner, Ethan, Abby and Thomas Austin of Wales, Andrew Metcalf of Juneau, Ak., Elizabeth Sarazin of Portland and Susan and Kali Austin of South Portland; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Richard G. Morton and his wife Barbara of Farmington; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

AUSTIN – Betty M. 10/7/03. A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, Oct. 11, 2003, at 1 p.m. at the Henderson Memorial Baptist Church in Farmington. Arrangements are under the care of Western Maine Cremation and Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Farmington Public Library, 117 Academy St., Farmington, ME, 04938; Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, 75 Allen Street, P.O. Box 797, Wilton, ME, 04294; or to The Hospice House Fund, c/o AHCH, 15 Strawberry Avenue, P.O. Box 819, Lewiston, ME, 04240-0819.

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