JOANNE POWERS AUSTIN
1953-2021
Joanne Powers Austin, age 68, passed away peacefully at home on June 23, 2021 due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. She was a smart, witty, vivacious woman who was universally loved by all who knew her. Joanne is survived by her husband of 45 years, Brent Austin, of Spicewood, TX; daughter Elizabeth Wanczak (Nick) of Franklin, TN; daughter Katharine Austin of Austin, TX; sister Laurel Powers (Leslie Silkwood) of Houston, TX; sister-in-law Dian Austin (Sandra Altman) of Houston, TX; and her grandchildren, Clara and Everett Wanczak. She was predeceased by her parents, Max and Vivian Powers.
Joanne was born in Louisville, KY, and lived in New Albany, IN and New Orleans before moving with her family to Houston in 1963. She graduated from Spring Woods High School in 1971 and received her undergraduate degree in English from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX in May 1974. Joanne graduated magna cum laude from Southwestern in only three years, while simultaneously working 20 hours a week as the Physics Dept. secretary and serving as an officer in her Phi Mu sorority chapter. Joanne then went on to earn her master’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin in May 1976, three months before marrying Brent.
Joanne was a talented writer and editor. She loved the English language and crossword puzzles, was a stickler for the proper use of apostrophes, and had the most beautiful handwriting. Joanne started her writing career at the Bureau of Business Research at UT-Austin in 1977 and later worked for the Real Estate Research Corp. in Houston. In July 1979 she moved with Brent to New York City, where they lived in a 3rd floor walk-up apartment in Chelsea. Joanne landed a job at ADWEEK and learned all the aspects of magazine publishing—writing, editing, layout, fonts, even typesetting. Following subsequent moves to Port Chester, NY and Wilton, CT, Joanne and Brent moved to the Seattle area in September 1986, where their daughters Elizabeth and Katharine were born. Joanne continued her career as a freelance writer, collaborating for over 20 years with another ADWEEK alum, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, writing articles on various paranormal and spiritual topics. In 1992 the Austin family moved from Seattle to El Paso, TX, and in 1997 the family returned to Houston.
Joanne was a life-long United Methodist who embodied Christian love and selfless devotion to others. She was a strong advocate for civil liberties and social justice. She was also passionate about Southwestern University and hosted new student send-off parties, manned the Southwestern table at high school College Night, wrote recommendation letters for students seeking admission, and funded several scholarships. For years Joanne lobbied for the return of football to Southwestern, and she played an important role in its actual return in 2013 after a hiatus of 63 years.
Fittingly, the memorial service celebrating Joanne’s life will be held at the Lois Perkins Chapel on the campus of Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2021--exactly 45 years to the day that Joanne and Brent were married in that same venue. The Reverend Alan McGrath, Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church Georgetown, will conduct the service, and a reception will follow at the church’s McKinney Christian Ministry Center at 1205 Ash Street.
Donations in Joanne’s memory can be made to the Joanne Powers Austin Endowed Scholarship at Southwestern University (1001 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626 or southwestern. edu), to the Houston Area Parkinson Society (2700 Southwest Freeway, Suite 296, Houston, TX 77098 or hapsonline.org), or to the charity of your choice.