Mary Beth Austin

Mary Beth Austin went home to be with Jesus on November 10th, 2023 at age 93 at home in Fort Worth, TX. Mary Beth was born August 28, 1930 in Ponca City, OK to the late Sam and Mary Elizabeth Leathers. Mary Beth’s mom passed while giving birth to her. Her father remarried Ruby Ferguson who gave birth to her three siblings, sister Jan and brothers Max and Ken. The brothers preceded her in death.

She married her high school sweetheart and loving husband Don on June 11, 1949 at the age of 18. She often said “he rescued me”. At the age of 22, she had bulbar polio and survived. For the last 20 years, she has suffered with post-polio syndrome which impaired her mobility, physical activity, breathing and swallowing. Mary Beth is survived by her sons David Austin and wife Sonja of Fort Worth, Clyde Austin and wife Cheryl of Fort Worth, 5 grandkids Lee Austin and wife Camille, Chae Hackney, and wife Vangi, Trent Austin and wife Jennifer, Caty Roberts and husband Brandon, and Calder Austin and 6 great grandkids Ashlee Austin, Garrett Austin, Spur Hackney, Trenity Hackney, Nolan Roberts, and Londyn Roberts. She is survived by her sister Jan Harney of Perry, OK and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Early in her marriage Mary Beth was a stay-at-home mom and helped her husband Don in his business in Dallas. In 1971 they moved from Farmers Branch to Colleyville where she began her real estate career. She opened Regional Realtors in Bedford with a business partner in 1974. They sold it to Ebby Halliday Realtors in 1977. She saw a need for homes in the area and started a custom home building business MBA Homes in Colleyville in the late 70’s. She was successful in an industry dominated by men. Her son Clyde joined the home building business in 1981. Mary Beth and her son Clyde built an office building in Colleyville in 1984 for their home building business and opened ERA Realtors. Her keen eye for design and business sense along with an understanding of the market helped her build a business and reputation for quality homes with many repeat customers. There are over 300 MBA built homes scattered throughout Northeast Tarrant County. In 1999 she transitioned from home building. She worked part time with son Clyde and his wife Cheryl in their telecom business Buy-Tel Communications in Colleyville and Lake Worth. She retired in early 2000’s.

In the 1980’s she spearheaded “jail and bail” fund raising events for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Many business and civic leaders in the area were involved in this annual event held at their office building in Colleyville.

In the early 1990’s she rededicated her life to Christ and joined Memorial Baptist Church (Church at the Cross) where she and her husband served faithfully for the rest of their lives. Mary Beth served as a children’s teacher and Awana leader and was on a pastor search committee for many years and had a great impact on them. She looked forward to meeting with her women’s prayer group regularly even until her death.

Mary Beth loved her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart and she loved God’s word. She was a powerful prayer warrior and encourager. Only heaven knows the wonderful and eternal impact of all her years of faithful praying have had on her family, friends and the world at large. She was greatly respected and an inspiration for many. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She loved her Braum’s ice cream bars and Burger King hamburgers. She made you feel welcome and loved from the moment you met her. She left such a legacy and will be missed greatly and we rejoice that we will see her again!

After she lost Don, the love of her life, she and her son Clyde designed her cottage to build on Clyde’s Lake Worth property. This was their last building project together. She moved to “Granny’s Cottage” at the end of May this year. She really enjoyed lake life while living next door to Clyde and Cheryl. She was excited that David and Sonja moved just up the hill to be close to her. She enjoyed hot dogs and S’mores around the fire pit as much as the grandkids. She loved seeing the birds, blue herons, egrets, deer, ducks, geese, and foxes. She loved taking her friends around the property on her scooter and to the dock. She enjoyed touring the lake on the Pontoon boat three weeks ago on a beautiful day.

Now that Mary Beth has passed into the arms of our Lord, we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Granny’s physical life on Earth, it’s the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her!

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville from 6 to 8 pm and a memorial service will be held at Church at the Cross in Grapevine with Pastors J. R. Vasser and Pete Brooks officiating on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 2 pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Austin family.