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OnFridayMarch182011OthaLeeAustinIIIbeckonedforhiswifeShirleyof37yearstocomeneartohim.HeembracedherandtoldherthathelovedherthenhelefthernevertoutterthosewordsagainforhenowresidesinGloryLand.TherehehasbeenreunitedwithGrandmaChrisGrandpaOthaGrandpaLCAuntFredaandhisBabyBoyRod.OthaLeeaffectionatelycalledRazzwasborntoFrancesAustinandWillieWrightinKansasCityMissourionMarch201954.Suchalovableinquisitivechildhewas.Hisbabysitternoticedearlieronhispen-chantformusicashewasalwaystouchingthingsasthoughhewereplayingthepiano.Hebeganpianolessonsattheageof6withdiffer-entmusicteachersandattendedthemusicconservatory.Oneofhisinstructorsnotedtohismotherthattherewasnothingelsehecouldteachhimashehadthegiftofmusic.OthawaseducatedintheKansasCityPublicSchoolsystemgraduatingfromCentralHighSchoolin1972.OthaacceptedChristashisSavioratanearlyageandwasbaptizedatZionGroveMissionaryBaptistChurchinKansasCity.Asamem-berofZionGrovehewastheYouthMinisterofMusic.HewasalsoamemberofthegospelgrouptheFiveWonders.WhileattendingtheUniversityofMissouriatKansasOthawastheMinisterofMusicfortheVoicesofExodus.WhileinhisjunioryearofhighschoolOthamettheloveofhislifeShirleyJeanMcKelvy.TheywerejoinedinHolyMatrimonyonSeptember11973.Theywereblessedwith3childrenTeadraAnthonyandRodneyplusOthassonHerschel.Rodneyprecededhimindeath.Heandhisfamilytrav-eledandlivedinfarawayplacesasOthawasacareermanoftheUnitedStatesAirForce.Heretiredafter2215yearsofdedicatedserviceasaMasterSergeant.Priortohisretire-mentheandhisfamilyrelocatedtoDenverColorado.OthajoinedtheKingBaptistChurchandtheMassChoirin1983andwasafaithfulser-vantthroughouthistenure.Othasleadershipabilitiesasanaccomplishedmusicianwereasimpeccableashisdress.Alwayspromptalwaysprecisealwaysman-nerable.HisquietspiritwouldoftenbeoverriddenbyhiszealofmusicalpraisewhileplayingthepianotheorganorhisbelovedKorgkeyboard.WhenhisspiritcouldnolongerbequietonecouldfeelhisemotionexplodewhileplayingPrayforMeanoldRev.CleophusRobinsonsong.OthacrossedpathswithsomeofthegospelmusicworldsgreatestthelateRev.JamesClevelandthelateWalterHawkinsRev.DarylColeyandPhilipBaileyofEarthWindandFirejusttonameafew.OthawasalsoanaccomplishedcomposerandarrangerashecomposedandarrangedFromtheDepthsofSin.ThissongwassungbyRev.DarylColeyontheKingBaptistChurchMassChoiralbumentitledHoldingOnToJesusHand.Alongwithhismusicalaccomplish-mentsOthareceivedhisAssociateDegreeinAppliedSciencein1993fromtheCommunityCollegeoftheAirForcehisBachelorofScienceinBusinessin2003fromtheUniversityofPhoenixhisAssociateDegreeofAppliedScience-MortuarySciencein2008fromtheArapahoeCommunityCollegeandhismostcherisheddegreeconferredonhimwastheInternationalConferenceofFuneralServiceExaminingBoardsin2009.Thisisjustafewofhismanyaccomplishments.Othawasneveronetositdoingnothinghewasalwayshadanunquenchablethirstforknowledge.WhenhishealthbegantofailhimOthastillmadechoirrehearsalsandSundaymorningworshipservices.Hisdedicationtohismusicministrywasunmatched.Evenwhilerecu-peratingfromsurgeryhewasstillhoninghismusicaltalentbyplayingthekeyboard.TocherishhismemoriesarehislovingandfaithfulwifeShirleylovingmotherFranceslovingdaughterTeadraAubreylov-ingsonsHerschelTamaraandAnthonyLettishaGrandsonsCameronAnthonyAmariLeeandGranddaughterKhilynGodchildrenKimberleyTiffiniTrevonTahjaneeFredericArianaandIsaiahClarenceCJbrothers-in-lawJerrySheilaRaymondBennieRayCharlesCynthiaJasonLindaandJasonsisters-in-lawLindaAlbertandJoyceScottahostofniecesandnephewscousinsandfriends.OthaLeeAustinIII19APRIL2011BODYOFCHRISTNEWSOBITUARYOthasleadershipabilitiesasanaccomplishedmusicianwereasimpeccableashisdress.Alwayspromptalwaysprecisealwaysmannerable.HisquietspiritwouldoftenbeoverriddenbyhiszealofmusicalpraisewhileplayingthepianotheorganorhisbelovedKorgkeyboard.OthaLeeAustinIII