Mercedes Lynn Austin was granted her angel wings on January 14th 2016. Leading up to her passing at home, she was diagnosed in December 2015, with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Stage II Cancer. In her final days, Mercedes was awaiting a cure. Her faith was promising, her strength was of a greater purpose and she envisioned in due time, she would be a survivor.
Although she didn’t get to see the beauty in growing old, fourteen youthful years of her free-spirit impacted those she touched around her. Mercedes’ understanding of unconditional love came from within her pure beautiful soul. She was nice to all, filled with happiness, deeply caring and a compassionate person who enjoyed life and being around people. She had a vivacious smile that could fill you with joy. Her affection was so present, it found a way of attracting your soul and in a sense making one feel complete.
Mercedes’ illness was so sudden, her curiosity; of what would be her last few remaining weeks in life kept her fighting to dig for answers. In all of her confusion, she trusted overcoming the odds. She managed to stream sun rays of positivity throughout her battle with cancer. There’s many memories of her dancing, and singing along with her iPad. She loved doing puzzles, word searches with mom, riding her bike with her cousins, swimming and visiting with animals. She loved dressing up as a princess and going to sleepovers.
Since preschool Mercedes was always eager for school days, she attended Sunflower Elementary School. After graduating from there, she went on to South Middle School where she completed eighth grade. She enjoyed riding the school bus, school staff and students, and had a special bond with the students in her class.
She was born on October 19th 2001, in Pasadena, Texas. Raised in Lawrence, Kansas. She is survived by her loving mother Stephanie Lynn Austin; brother Cedric Austin; sister Shiandra Austin; brother Tyson Austin; sister Brittney Austin; brother Dominique Austin; two nieces and three nephews.
With her passing over, leaves opportunity to create lasting memories, to latch onto one another for courage, maintain a meaningful life and a path of direction for living our own life when we reflect of the past.
Graveside service will be held Friday January 22, 2016, at 11am at Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday January 21, 2016, from 6-7pm, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Friends may call from 9am-6pm Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mercedes Austin Memorial Fund, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044.
Condolences to the Austin family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your whole family. Psalms 147:3 says Jehovah God, “heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.” May God bring you comfort and peace.
To the family of Mercedes: I Know you are thankful for the time you enjoyed with her.
What a grand reunion it will be to see Mercedes again in God’s new world. May Jehovah continue to be with you.
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Mercedes. I worked worked Mercedes for 2 summers at Southwest Middle School. We bonded over our love for Hello Kitty. She was a delight. I would love to see her smile, and her laughter was infectious. Mercedes cared deeply for her classmates and was always willing to help out. I will miss us playing catch, and watching her swing so high on the swings. You are now up there with the angels. Now soar through the skies.
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the f family of Mercedes. I worked worked Mercedes for 2 simmers at Southwest Middle School. We bonded over our love for Hello Kitty. She was a delight. I would love to she her smile, and her laughter was infectious. Mercedes casted deeply for her classmates and was always willing to help out. I will miss us playing catch, and watching her swing so high on the swings. You are now up there with the angels. Now soar through the skies.
I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family of Mercedes . I had the pleasure of working with Mercedes for 6 years. Mercedes was such a happy child who always gave her best and filled the room with laughter and love . Dearly missed by many xxx
I am a South Middle School Student. Mercedes was in a couple of my classed and I am so blessed to have know her. Her smile was what you saw first when she came into the door of each of our classes followed by her loving way to greet each of her friends. She was so Amazing and the meaning of a True Friend. I know the Love of Christ shined through her so bright. And I know she is there now smiling and loving and dancing on the streets of Gold. I will forever miss you Mercedes. But you will always be in my heart. And I know someday we will see each other again and we both can dance on the streets of GOLD IN HEAVEN! I LOVE YOU MERCEDES MY FRIEND. Lv Tabby
Please accept my sincere sympathy in your loss. I was a substitute teacher at South and had the pleasure of having her in my class. She enjoyed school. I’m not sure if it was what she worked on or just spending time with other students and staff. Learning to type and cook seemed to be her favorite activities. Her sweet smiles and kindness to other students are just a few of my fond memories. Blessings to her loving family.
I only knew Mercedez when she was a very young girl . She was sweet, quiet, playful , happy, she was a very good kid. And I’m saddened to hear of her passing . My condolences to the family.
I was so saddened to hear this devastating news! I had the privilege of working with Mercedes two summers on a row. Last summer as her bus driver and the summer before as her monitor on the bus. Granted, it was only a couple hours a day, four days out of the week, bit it was enough to get to know this beautiful sweet girl. She was always smiling and was so great th o be around. She loved getting to ride the bus. As soon as I pulled up in front of her house, she was out the door and ready to go.my prayers go out to her whole family in their time of grief.
I grew to know Mercedes over the years as I worked with her at Sunflower. She was such and loving and generous spirit. I always looked forward to seeing her. Mercedes was eager to try new things and she worked very hard on everything she was presented. Mercedes had great pride in her accomplishments and was filled with smiles and laughter. I was so lucky to have known her. The world will not be quite as bright without her.
Mercedes rode my bus, 124 and I loved her, I was the monitor so I sat across from her and she was so much fun, we joked and laughed the whole route, we on the bus are all so sad and shocked at how such a beautiful little angel could be taken away so soon, I will miss her so much and think about her often.
I went to Sunflower as well and I remember meeting Mercedes when I was in like Sixth grade. I know a lot of the teachers I had that also had her will greatly miss her and my heart goes out to them and the Austin family. She was a very nice and pretty girl.