Shirley (Blake) "Joan" (Brown) Austin

Shirley “Joan” (Blake) (Brown) Austin, 86, of Smithsburg, MD passed away January 12, 2022. Joan was born November 1, 1935, in Smithsburg, MD. She was the 4th of 9 children of Teathian (Bud) and Mildred (Gish) Blake, and wife of the late Raymond Austin. Joan graduated from Smithsburg High Class of 1953 and attended the Women’s Medical School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Joan is survived by her former husband, Don Brown, their daughters Teresa (Terry) Hutzell of Rohrersville; Pamela (Bob) Walker of Hagerstown; and Cynthia (Glenn) Reynolds of Smithsburg; stepsons Michael (Patty) Austin of Hagerstown and Scott (Gwen) Austin of Frederick; and Anne (Steve) Spenser of Waynesboro, TN; 17 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by sisters Mildred “Teenie” Harbaugh and Virginia “Dollye” Schroyer. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Michael E. Brown, sisters Betty Kline, Margaret Paxton, Jacqueline Finnin, and Joyce Carpenter, and brothers Teathian “Sonny” Blake and Charles “Buddy” Blake, granddaughter Alexis Austin and great-grandson James Senz. Joan lived in California 1955-1973. Upon returning to this area, she was a Washington County school bus contractor and driver, then drove for County Commuter. Joan enjoyed living overseas 1984-2001 in Russia, Saudia Arabia, Korea and Singapore. She was an associate member of Mt Zion Lutheran Church, Rohrersville, MD and member of Christ’s Reformed United Church of Christ, Cavetown, MD. Services will be held Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 11:00am at Mt Zion Lutheran Church, Locust Grove Rd, Rohrersville. The family will receive friends 10:00-11:00 prior to the service, with a gathering at Friendship Hall across from Mt Zion Lutheran Church following burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joan’s name to the Mt Zion Needy Family Fund or Mt Zion Memorial Fund, PO Box 55, Rohrersville MD 21779. Arrangements were made by J.L. Davis Funeral Home, Smithsburg, MD and online condolences may be offered at www.jldavisfh.com.