Austin Park
1931 – 2023
Wayne "Austin" Park, affectionately known as "Papa" and "Uncle Austin," passed away on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at the age of 91. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, Austin will be missed by all who knew him.
Born in Quanah, Texas in 1931, his family moved to Indiahoma, Oklahoma shortly after his birth. He was the 12th of 12 children born to James Thomas and Bertie Elizabeth Park (Holt). Tragically, his mother passed away while giving birth to the 13th child, and his father died when Austin was only 8 years old. Despite these early losses, Austin persevered with the help of his older sisters and later, with his aunt and uncle in Rogers County, where he attended school and helped on their farm. Austin was predeceased by all his brothers and sisters, including Mina Lou, Virginia, Guy, Luther, Harold, J.W., Bonnie, Sarah, Lois, Leola, and Lillian.
After graduating from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Austin went on to study agriculture at Oklahoma A&M. He paid his own way through college by working summers at Yosemite National Park, hitchhiking all the way from Oklahoma to California and back again. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1955, marking the start of a three-generation trend of Oklahoma State University graduates in his family.
Austin began his career at Cato Oil and Grease while he was still in college, splitting time between Cato and the Army. After fulfilling his military and University obligations, he returned to Cato full-time and eventually retired as the Vice President of Manufacturing in 1994.
Cato gave him more than just a career. It was at Cato where his secretary, Frances, became his wife.
The bond between Austin, Frances, and their two children, Brian and Jennifer, was unbreakable. They were a family that thrived on sports and the great outdoors, spending countless hours fishing, riding 4-wheelers and horses, and tending to the land and Austin's beloved cows.
Austin is survived by his children Brian (wife Valerie) and Jennifer Park (fiancé Steve Knipp), grandchildren Jake Park (wife Abby), Carson Park, and Amanda Merriott, and great-granddaughters Morgan and McKinlee Merriott. He also loved and was loved by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and all their families.
After his retirement, Austin dedicated his time to his family, particularly his grandchildren. Some of his favorite memories were made with them in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where trout fishing at St. Louis Creek was his favorite pastime. He never missed any of the grandkids' sporting events or activities and loved bringing everyone out to the farm to enjoy the outdoors and to show off his garden. We will never forget the mountains of okra, tomatoes, watermelon, and cantaloupe with which he blessed us.
Austin will be remembered for his kind and gentle spirit, his sense of humor, and his unwavering love for his family. He was a true friend to many and will be deeply missed. While his passing is painful, we can only imagine the joy Austin felt as he was welcomed into heaven by all his brothers and sisters and as he embraced Frances again for the first time in 15 years. They are all together again, just as God intended.
Services will be held Monday, January 16th, 2023, at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 2:30 PM. Interment is to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.