Memorial
Eva Austin, 93, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at Living Center East, Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Supt. Jerald Woods will officiate with burial in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before the service on Saturday at the Chapel. Lorene Eva Stewart was born April 7, 1918, in Lawrence, Kansas. She was the daughter of Hubert Lorn (1899-1945) and Rhoda Gladys (Weaver) Stewart (1898-1956). She had one brother, Loren David Stewart (1920-1986) and two half-sisters, Mary Lee and Mattie Ellen Stuart (1927) currently living in Harrisonville, Mo. She lived with her parents in Kansas City, KS when she was a little girl. But, before the age of 10, she had moved with her mother to Mason City, IA. She attended Central School as a child, and was even mentioned in the 1930 Globe Gazette newspaper when she sang “Whispering hope” after the Superintendant of Schools spoke at the November PTA meeting.Eva, as she was known to almost everyone, married James Austin, Sr. August 16, 1936. But, before getting married and having children, they enjoyed several years competing in Cake Walk dance contests and performing with the Senegalese Drum and Bugle Corp. One of those performances was noted in the Globe Gazette when the group entertained over 12,000 people at the Sidney, Iowa rodeo in August of 1934. They didn’t win that competition, but James Sr. was a big hit wielding his drum major baton around the arena. From the publicity, they must have been an entertaining young couple whenever they performed together. She lost her dance partner on July 31, 1969.As Eva spent time in church throughout the years, she was never without a song to share. Mainly the gift came from her mother, who was state piano player for the Church of God in Christ before leaving this earth. Eva loved to sing some of her mother’s or Mahalia Jackson’s favorite songs…We can still hear her singing…Move on Up a Little Higher or Life is a Ball Game.Their marriage was blessed with 5 children still living: Jeanetta Austin of Cedar Rapids, Loraletta Woolery of Arizona, Viola (Earl) Harrison of Cedar Rapids, Violet (Robert) Hobbs of Des Moines, and Ronald Austin of Cedar Rapids. James Jr., twin of Jeanetta, sadly left this earth the day he was born. Eva spent many long years raising her children and working outside the home: from the Hanford Hotel and Holy Family Rectory in Mason City, IA, to a position as a house mother for the state in Des Moines, IA. After retiring, she moved to Cedar Rapids, IA and lived there until her passing.Throughout the last 52 years, 12 grandchildren were born, along with 24 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Many children will carry on the genes of Lorene Eva Stewart Austin…the Bantu tribe of Africa, and the Cherokee, Blackfoot and Choctaw tribes of the United States.Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend…Rest in peace with our other loved ones.The Austin family would like to give a special thank you to the Hospice of Mercy and the nurses and aids at Living Center East. Memorials may be directed to the family.