NASHVILLE
Beulah Jean (Mathis) Austin passed from this life on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. A lifelong Brown County resident, she lived the majority of her 89 years on Green Valley Road. She and her husband, Bob, raised four children in a house they built together. They shared 42 years of marriage and teamwork before Bob’s passing on January 1, 1992. She also enjoyed a long-time membership in the Nashville Christian Church.
Making her arrival on March 15, 1931, Beulah was the second of ten children born to Samuel Ernest and Emma K. (Snyder) Mathis, and was the great-granddaughter of Samuel L. and Mary Ann (Branstetter) McLary, who had considerable Brown County landholdings in the late 1800’s. McLary-Mathis descendants continue to meet for the yearly family reunion, held in the refurbished barn on Kelp’s Grove Road, and Beulah was happy to have celebrated with her kids, siblings, and cousins in October 2019. As in so many other cases, the pandemic of 2020 prevented this year’s gathering.
Always a hard-working woman, Beulah held jobs in several businesses around town, such as The Colonial Room Restaurant, Walker’s IGA/Nashville IGA, and she and Bob shuttled hundreds of Brown County kids to school on their two bus routes for many years. Her later working days were spent as a hostess in the McDonald’s dining room, where she enjoyed visiting with the constant flow of customers, young and old. Once the workday was finished, Beulah enjoyed spending time with her beloved dachshund, Mia, as well as tending her African violets and other flowers, keeping the hummingbird feeders filled, reading, sewing, and crocheting. She created beautiful crocheted Christmas angels and baby afghans as gifts for her family.
Beulah was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Eugene Austin, her parents Sam and Emma Mathis, and siblings Doris (Mathis) Kelp, George, Richard, and Harold Mathis, and infant sister, Connie Sue Mathis.
Mourning her loss are her children Brenda Fowler, Bill (Jenny) Austin, Ernie (Elaine) Austin, all of Brown County, and Bev (Dave) Roberts, of Columbus. She is also survived by grandchildren Nancy Schroyer, Tim Fowler, Missy Jackson, Allison O’Shea, Trent Austin, Chad Austin, Lindsey Austin, Jordan Roberts, Ashley Lykins, and Andy Roberts. She also leaves behind 29 great- grandchildren. Beulah is also survived by brother Paul (Debbie) Mathis, of Brown County, and sisters Sarah Smith, Bonnie (John) Rihm, both of Indianapolis, and Mary (Darrel) Lucas, of Columbus, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to share in the memorial service at the Nashville Christian Church on Saturday, December 26, 2020. Visitation will be from 12:00 – 2:00 pm, and Pastor Kendall Yeaton will lead the service beginning at 2:00. Beulah will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery, in Nashville. Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Austin family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to the devoted nursing staff of Brown County Health and Living, and Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, who provided great tenderness and care to our mother during her last years. Anyone who would like to honor her life is encouraged make a donation in Beulah’s name to the following: Brown County Health & Living Activities Program Fund, 55 Willow Street, Nashville, IN 47448, Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 17th Street, Columbus, IN 47201, or to Nashville Christian Church, 160 S. Van Buren Street, Nashville, IN 47448.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.BondMitchellFuneralHome.com
