Ethel Austin

Ethel was born in Lafayette Louisiana to Theophille Francis and Mary Janice on October 23, 1952. She was one of nine children. She moved to Los Angeles after the passing of her mother.

Ethel met and later married her first husband; Windell “Wilson” Austin Sr in May 1974. They had one child; Windell Austin Jr.

She married Herman Spearman in a private ceremony in August 2000.

Ethel moved to Omaha in September 2015, after the passing of her husband Herman. She remained in Omaha until the time of her passing in December 2025.

Personal Information.

My mother was a Huge Raider fan. She stuck with them from Oakland, to Los Angeles, back to Oakland and even to Las Vegas.

She loved people. Anyone that has met her immediately felt her spirit.

She loved to dance. She even taught me (her son) how to dance back when “boys/men didn’t dance”.

She played softball. She was an excellent left fielder.

Her family was everything and came first. She was the “mother bear” of the family. She made sure her brother and sisters had what they needed.

An aside: When her brother Charles came home from Vietnam, she gave him the rental house she lived in.

Survived By:

Sister: Melba “Diane” Naverrette, Son: Windell Austin Jr, Son In-law: Phillip Schorg, Granddaughter: JaNae Austin, Great Grandchildren: Jayden, Jaylah & Sage, Many Other Nieces, Nephews, Cousins & Friends.

Preceded in Death By:

Husbands: Herman Spearman, Windell ”Wilson” Austin Sr., Brothers:, Joseph Francis, Charles “Choo Choo” Francis,  Sisters: Ceola Francis, Ella Mae DeJean, Joann Francis, Mary Haddock, Several Nieces and Nephews.