Katherine Austin Huffaker

Katherine Louise Austin Huffaker, age 90, a former resident of Gentry, Arkansas, died peacefully on Sunday, August 17, 2008, in Oklahoma City. Katherine led a long and fulfilling life. She traveled throughout the world residing in many cities in the United States and in Japan. Her daughter Susan was born while Katherine lived in the Panama Canal Zone. She was a mother a nurse and an avid cook and bridge player, seamstress and gardener. Katherine was active in the First Methodist Church in Gentry, having served as Communion Steward and Chair of the Memorial Fund. She was particularly proud to be a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Conversations about politics would spark her quick wit and reveal her lifelong Democratic Party ideals. She campaigned ardently for her nephew, Railey Steele and could always be found working at the polls on election days. She spent most of her years in Gentry and most recently lived in Oklahoma City near her daughter, Susan. Katherine was the youngest daughter of a family of eight children born to John and Ollie Austin of Gravette, Arkansas and was a member of the Gravett Class of 1938. Katherine and her sister Nina Steele of Gentry were inseparable figures on the Gentry landscape for many years. Katherine cared lovingly for Nina in her later years until Nina’s death in 2005 at the age of 100. Katherine’s many friends in Gentry, across the country, and new friends in Oklahoma City, will remember her as a vivacious lady, who enjoyed life and who never missed the opportunity to add grace and humor to the room. She is survived by her son, Robert (Kitty) Huffaker of Montgomery, Alabama and her daughter Susan (Michael) Dunham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She had three loving grandchildren, Robert Austin (Cecily) Huffaker, Jr., Mathew Lee (Caroline) Huffaker and Michael Drew Dunham. Katherine had three very special great-grandchildren, Mary Virginia Huffaker, Robert Huffaker, III and Ann Katherine Huffaker and is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, who brought her great joy throughout the years. Katherine is also survived by her beloved Sister-In-Law, Wanda Austin of Arlington, Texas. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Gentry, followed by burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gravett. Pallbearers include Austin Huffaker, Lee Huffaker, Drew Dunham, Carl Fowler, Dan Rader and Justin O’Steen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent either to the Gentry United Methodist Church or to the Rai, Nina and Railey Steele Civic Endowment Fund (Gentry), c/o Capstone Financial Group, Inc. 13919 Quail Pointe Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73134.

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Katherine Austin Huffaker

December 17, 1917 - August 17, 2008