Martha LaVelle Austin
1913 - 2003

Graveside services for lifelong Independence resident Martha LaVelle Austin, 90, will be held 
on Wednesday, July 2, at the Independence District Cemetery in Independence at 11 a.m.

Born April 6, 1913 in Los Angeles, Mrs. Austin died on Sunday, June 29, at the Bishop Care 
Center in Bishop. 

Martha moved to the Owens Valley with her family when she was in elementary school and attended 
school in Lone Pine.  She married E. B. "Red" Austin in 1930 and they had one daughter, Lorna.  
Together they founded Austin's General Store in Independence, and Martha worked for the County 
Recorder's Office, retiring after 30 years of service.

After 57 years of marriage, Red died in 1987, and daughter Lorna Gracey died last year.

She is survived by four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Vickie Gracey and children 
Brendan, Caitlin, and Siobhan of Philadelphia, Gregg Gracey and son Bryan of Ridgecrest, Lynda 
Gracey and children Charlie and Dustin of Lone Pine, and Wendy Gracey and son Jordan of New York.

The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Tuesday, July 1, 2003 - Page A2

Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, September 27, 2004