Obituaries

Austin McCaskill

Photo of Austin McCaskill
AUSTIN MCCASKILL SR., lived a long and full life spanning nearly a century. He passed away on Dec. 15, 2017, outliving nearly all of his friends, but leaving behind a legacy of kindness, faithfulness, and determination. Although he faced many changes and challenges during his 97 years, he rarely mentioned them. When you asked Austin how he was doing, his response was most often, "Fantastic. I just couldn't be better." His faith, his positive outlook on life, and his diligent work ethic kept him going through many setbacks and difficult times, and he remained a steadfast and loyal husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to the end. Austin was born in Little Rock, Ark., on Jan. 31, 1920, to Elmer A. McCaskill and Lenora Rice McCaskill. He graduated from Little Rock Senior High School. At the age of 16, he went to Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., and graduated with a law degree at age 22. He then was inducted into the US Army and was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps for the Atomic Bomb Project. He was a security officer at the time of his discharge. Then he returned to Little Rock, where he met and married Grace Jones, and had two sons. He practiced law with the firm Barber, Henry, and Thurman (which later became Barber, McCaskill, Amsler, Jones and Hale) from 1947 until 1995, when he became counsel to the firm. He continued to go into the office several times a week until just a few months ago. In his practice he represented and served on the Boards of Directors of Afco Steel and Afco Metals, and the Arkansas Democrat Newspaper. He also handled defense litigation for Firemans' Fund, Royal Globe, Travelers and other insurance companies, as well as litigation for General Motors. He was a Fellow in the American Academy of Trial Lawyers and served as President of the Downtown Little Rock Kiwanis Club. He was a faithful member of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, which he taught his sons and participated in for many years. He was a regular at the Little Rock Country Club; playing golf with friends was a favorite pastime. Austin was preceded in death by his first wife, Grace Jones McCaskill, to whom he was married for 42 years. He subsequently married Lucile Ramsey McCaskill, who passed away about a year after their marriage. In 1996, he married Joan Powell McCaskill, and they shared over 21 years of happy marriage. Austin is survived by his wife, Joan Powell McCaskill; his sister, Mary Jane Mehaffey; his sons Austin McCaskill (Beverly) and Roddy Jones McCaskill (Martha); his six grandchildren: Mary Grace Otis (Andrew), Emily Gaiser (John), Molly McCaskill, Kate Dewey (Derek), Ellen Walker (John), and Roddy McCaskill Jr. (Angela); and 11 great-grandchildren. Austin is also survived by his wife Cile's children, Peggy Farrell (Tim) and James Ramsey, and by Joanie's children, Ellen Powell Yeary (Jim) and Danny Powell (Sloan); and Joanie's four grandchildren. Austin was a faithful and kind husband, a wonderful father, a caring grandfather and great-grandfather, and a courteous and pleasant person to spend time with. He loved well and was well loved. He will be greatly missed. Memorials may be given to Habitat for Humanity for Central Arkansas or the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Ruebel Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published December 17, 2017

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