Jonesboro-  Kelly Don Austin, 57, formerly of Walnut Ridge, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2017 at his residence. He was born on September 20, 1959 to Donald and Oma Lee Hindman Austin in Walnut Ridge. He married Debbie Spears on March 25, 1984 in Jonesboro.  Kelly worked for many years at Harrison Food Company as Regional Sales Manager and was a member of the Harmony Baptist Church in Jonesboro.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald "Pookie" Austin and his wife, Debbie Spears Austin.

Survivors include his mother, Oma Lee Austin of Walnut Ridge; sisters, Janet Lawhon (Gary) of Walnut Ridge and Lorra Whitmire (Chris) of Clover Bend; nephews, Austin Lawhon (Morgan), Brian Gibbs, Chad, Nathaniel and Jeremy Spears; nieces, ShayLee Junkersfeld (Brad), Chantelle Spears and Raylene Whitmire; great nephews, Bentley and Clayton Lawhon; several other great nephews and nieces; many friends, family, and his beloved fur babies, "Snoop" and "Conrad".

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 4, 2017, from 11am until 1pm in Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge. Funeral services will follow at 1pm with Glenn Smith and Jim Hillyer officiating.  Burial will follow at Nettleton Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Walnut Ridge.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Danny Whitmire, Dean Gibson, Steve Shrable, Jeff and Jim Brecklein, Chad Spears, Brian Gibbs, Bill Wilcoxson and Kevin Slayton.