Dorothy Jean Austin

Dorothy Jean Teddlie Austin June 24, 1926 – October 7, 2025

Dorothy Austin, known as Dottie to most of us, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on October 7, 2025 at the age of 99.

Visitation will be at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount, Amarillo, Texas, on Thursday, October 16th, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm. There will be a private burial at Llano Cemetery. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the First Baptist Church Sanctuary with Dr. Howard Batson officiating.

Dottie was born on June 24, 1926, to Jack and Margie Teddlie in Stephenville, Texas. She graduated from Stephenville High School, John Tarleton Jr. College in Stephenville, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, she met a tall, handsome man named James Bryan Austin Jr., and he would become her husband on August 23, 1947. They had a garden wedding at her family home in Stephenville, Texas. Bryan went to work for Southwestern Public Service Co. in Plainview, Texas, and after two years, he was transferred to Amarillo, Texas. Since 1949, they made their home in Amarillo, where they were proud parents of four children, Melinda, Jim, Steve and Stan. Dottie and Bryan were both only children, and so they enjoyed their large family. They loved raising their family and were involved in their community. First Baptist Church became their church home, where they both served in many capacities. When Dottie was 28 years old, she gave her life to Jesus and truly began her lifelong commitment and walk with the Lord. Dottie’s love for the Lord and studying His word was strong, and soon she began teaching Sunday School to young women. Her class grew and grew over the years and became known as “Dottie’s girls.” She never grew tired of preparing, studying, and teaching God’s word to women, which she did for over 65 years. She also taught 4-year-old pre-kindergarten at First Baptist Church for 11 years. She had a great impact on those children, and many still remember her, the Bible verses she taught them, and her love for Jesus. Bryan went home to be with Jesus on February 11, 1987, at the age of 62 years old.

Dottie was blessed to go on many Mission trips all over the world and had the joy of taking each one of her grandchildren on a Mission trip when they were, yes … teenagers. Each grandchild looked forward to “their mission trip” with Grand Dottie, and even today, they remember how special it was. She loved investing her faith in her grandchildren’s lives - an investment she never regretted.

Dottie was also preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Margie Teddlie, her husband, James Bryan Austin Jr., her son-in-law, Larry Ewing and her grandson-in-law, Sloan Everett.

Dottie is survived by her four children and their spouses, Melinda Austin Ewing Spears and husband Hershel, Jim Austin and wife Ann Franklin Austin, Steve Austin and wife Jane Franklin Austin, and Stan Austin and wife Kae Rae McBroom Austin, all of Amarillo. Nine grandchildren, Elisa Ewing Krolczyk and husband Scott of Spring, Texas, Emily Ewing Arnett and husband Cee of Clovis, NM, Olivia Austin Mijares and husband Ruben of Houston, Texas, Austin Ewing and wife Kim Rowlett Ewing of Allen, Texas, James Austin and wife Lauren Buck Austin of Amarillo, Texas, Luke Austin and wife Meredith Cone Austin of Amarillo, Texas, Tripp Austin and wife Molly Burns Austin of Dallas, Texas, Travis Austin and wife Ashley Armstrong Austin of Lubbock, Texas and Liesl Austin Everett LaMar and husband Luke of Amarillo, Texas. She was also blessed with 23 great-grandchildren, with her last great-grandchild being named after her; Dorothy Jane Austin, so yes, her name will continue on.

We would say Dottie’s Motto in life was to “Keep a goin” and her life scripture was: Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” To her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and those yet to come, she faithfully prayed for each of you every day, and it would be her prayer now that you persevere and look to the Lord and His strength and seek His face always. To her precious children, she would want us to always remember how much she loved us and that her greatest joy in life was to know that her children are walking in the truth. No doubt today she would say, “My dearest ones, ‘keep a goin’, fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith until we all meet again in Heaven.”

The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church Missions, 1208 S. Tyler St., Amarillo, Texas 79101.

Keep A-Goin'!

If you strike a thorn or rose,

Keep a-goin'!

If hails, or if it snows,

Keep a-goin!

'Taint no use to sit an' whine,

When the fish ain't on your line;

Bait your hook an' keep a-tryin'—

Keep a-goin'!

When the weather kills your crop,

Keep a-goin'!

Though ‘tis work to reach the top,

Keep a-goin'!

S'pose you're out of every dime,

Gettin' broke ain’t any crime;

Tell the world you're feelin' prime—

Keep a-goin'!

When it looks like all is up,

Keep a-goin'!

Drain the sweetness from the cup,

Keep a-goin'!

See the wild birds on the wing,

Hear the bells that sweetly ring,

When you feel like singin', sing—

Keep a-goin'!