Austin Myles Fox

Austin Myles Fox, 39 of Phoenix, Arizona passed away peacefully Friday, September 2, 2022 due to complications from an undiagnosed heart issue. He was surrounded by his family and fiancé Tara at the time of his passing.

From a very young age Austin had many nicknames, all of which pointed to his wit, determination, curiosity, and innate ability to take things apart and put them back together. He was known as MacGyver, fast fingers Fox, switch artist, and mini mover. As a toddler, if he wasn’t tinkering with a phone line, he was testing the integrity of the electrical outlets, checking the water level in water beds, or finding a way to get onto the roof to retrieve a ball that was stuck. His ingenuity and ability to think outside the box never changed. In elementary school he would often come home with trinkets or stuffed animals he claimed to have found on his walk home. A corner store (not on the way home from school) had various arcade games at the entrance - it turned out that Austin had discovered unplugging and plugging back in the claw machine resulted in a “free play”. He always had a passion for problem solving, beating most video games in 24 hours or less, even if it meant staying up all night to do so. Many of his life-long friendships were built and maintained by playing various role playing games. By the age of 13 he further honed his technical skills building his first computer. This passion for technology would stay with him into adulthood where he was very successful in various information technology roles.

Austin’s sense of humor was loved by all who knew him. If he wasn’t laughing then he was making you laugh with him. His sarcastic wit, and way he was always so literal will stay with us always. Austin had an incredible ability to put a positive spin on every situation. His unrelenting optimism allowed him to face every challenge that life threw him, becoming better and stronger each step of the way.

Austin met the love of his life, Tara, on Groundhog Day, the irony is they would both love to live that day over and over again if they could. Their love for each other is unwavering and the kind of true love you only come across once in a lifetime. Even though they were having such fun planning their upcoming wedding in March 2023, they truly were married in their hearts from day one. While it feels like Austin and Tara were just getting started, they had already built an incredible life together with their “kids” Falkor (Great Pyrenees) and Vacala (African Grey Parrot). Austin never missed celebrating a Thursday date night with Tara, frequenting Shady’s for billiards or working their way through their movie night menu recipe book. While Austin’s life was cut short we take comfort knowing the last 7 years with Tara were the absolute best years of his life.

Austin is survived by the love of his life and soon to be wife Tara Koebler, mother Diane Jacobsen, father Jeffrey Fox and his wife Judy, step father Stephen Ideman, sister Dawna Carlson, sister Stephanie Pascarella and her husband Andrew, niece Makenna Carlson, nephews Caleb Carlson and Americo Pascarella, uncle Jerry Jacobsen and his wife Sharon, aunt Bonny Jacobsen, uncle Johnny Fox, and many beloved cousins.

Austin is predeceased by his grandparents Arden and Donna Jacobsen, Donald and Jeanne Fox, and aunt Kelly Marshall.

Please join us for a celebration of Austin’s life Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 2pm at Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary, 200 W Beardsley Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85027.

In lieu of flowers, please consider blood donation or donation to American Heart Association in honor of Austin. Austin’s family is setting up a blood drive in his honor, more details to follow. During his hospital stay Austin required many units of blood and it is one of the easiest ways to make a direct impact - one donation can help save more than one life.