Obituary: Carole Lynne Austin, of Monroe, Ga.

Carole Lynne Austin, age 54, of Monroe, a wonderful wife and mother, died on February 18, 2013. She was born in Philadelphia, PA on May 18, 1958 to Bernadette Spalding Parker and the late Garald G. Parker, Sr. A devoted mother of three, her family was her life.

She graduated from the University of South Florida College of Nursing and worked in critical care, geriatrics, and school nursing. A talented musician whose specialty was the oboe, Carole's artistic interests included sewing, gardening, stained glass, and quilting. Married to a local physician, she was a member of the Clearview Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and Monroe Junior Service League. She volunteered at the FISH, a Christian outreach to the needy in the community. As a member of Snellville United Methodist Church, she participated in local missions, including the Potter's Ministry. She was a regular on the sidelines as a soccer mom for her daughter, a George Walton Academy freshman. Carole was also the driving force behind developing a family support center in Westfield, MA during the 1990s and participated in many community programs and events during the family's residences in Western Massachusetts and Marietta, GA.

A friend wrote, "There was no finer, stronger, more decent soul on this planet. If you knew her you would understand. She made us better. Her strength, her decency, her compassion, her selflessness all emanated to anyone around her." She is survived by her husband and high school sweetheart, David B. Austin, M.D. of Monroe; daughters Christina Austin of Chattanooga, TN and Olivia Austin of Monroe; son Darrel Austin and his fiancée, Sky Yoder of Palm Coast, FL; mother Bernadette Parker of Tampa FL; sisters and brothers-in-law Beth Parker and Peter Gutowski of Chicago, IL; Deb and David Kratz of Linden, NC; Lisa and Jeff Bryson of Wesley Chapel, FL; and brother Garald G. Parker, Jr. of Tacoma, WA.

Funeral services were Friday, February 22, 2013 at Snellville United Methodist Church with Rev. Jay Suender officiating, followed by interment at Hill Haven Memory Gardens. Please sign the guestbook online at www.meadowsfuneralhomeinc.com

Obituary courtesy of Meadows Funeral Home, Monroe, Ga.