Mitsu Austermann

Mitsu Austermann, 82, of Tye, Texas, passed away on January 30, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.

Mitsu was born on July 9, 1942, in Okinawa, Japan, to Shizuko and Tsuryo Shimabukuro. On September 27, 1966, she married Melvin Ray Taylor at the American Legion Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. They shared 34 years of marriage before his passing. Later, on September 22, 2001, she married Leroy Austermann in Tye, Texas.

Mitsu dedicated 24 years to her career as a Supervisor at Dyess Air Force Base Billeting, where her hard work and dedication earned her numerous accolades, including being named Air Force Services Civilian Technician of the Year twice for the 7th Services Squadron.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Takeshi Shimabukuro, first husband Melvin Ray Taylor, second husband Leroy Austermann, brother in-law W. E. “Lucky” Taylor and his wife Stella Taylor, stepson Jimmy Taylor, step-grandson Aaron Taylor, and stepson Frankie Austermann.

She is survived by her son, Douglas Taylor, and his wife, Michelle, of Lubbock; granddaughter Madison Crenshaw and her husband, Kaleb, and their children, Kace and Breckin, of Post; granddaughter Sydney Widder and her husband, Zach, and their son, Jagger, of Lubbock; stepson Mike Taylor and his wife, Donna, of Abbeville, and their children Dana Young, Misty Taylor, Michael Taylor Jr., and Cody Hebert; sons of Jimmy Taylor, Robbie Taylor and Jimmy Taylor II, stepson Keith Austermann and his wife, Christy, of Fredericksburg; stepdaughter Dana West and her husband, Sonny, of Haskell; stepdaughter Sharon Gross and her husband, John, of Oregon; and numerous beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mike Taylor, Robert Mathewson, Steve Mathewson, Rick Mathewson, Earl Laird, Sean Woodard, Kaleb Crenshaw, and Zach Widder.

Funeral services will be held on February 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel in Merkel, Texas. Burial will follow at Tye Cemetery.

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