MARGIE AUSTMAN (nee GARRISON)

April 28, 2025

After an unexpected journey with cancer, lasting several months, Margie Austman of Kincardine succumbed April 28, 2025, at her home, with family by her side. Margie joins her parents, John and Leona Garrison; and her eldest brother, David (Cindy); in her long-awaited eternal home. Remaining here temporarily, remembering her and grieving for her, but rejoicing to have known her and loved her, are her husband, Gord; her sons, Matthew and Daniel; Matt’s wife, Michelle, and their children Ben, Madi and Lauren; her sister, Joy, and her husband, Mark; her brother, Ted and his wife, Rashida; Gord’s mother, Fran; and his siblings, Dan (Sue), Sam, and Kris; her nephews and nieces; and many dear friends. Margie Garrison was born in the City of Nadiad in Gujarat State, India, Feb. 7, 1956, the child of Christian Missionaries. Although she travelled around the world twice by the age of five, most of her growing up years were spent in India. It’s where she first encountered her eventual husband, Gordon Austman, in 1971, at Woodstock School in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. Margie’s family roots are in the United States and in Canada, especially in the area of Owen Sound, Ontario, where her mother’s fraternal grandparents homesteaded. She came to Canada at the age of 18 to attend college in Toronto. Although she missed her south Asian birthplace, Canada then remained her home. She married the father of her sons, Eric Hancock, in 1979, and moved to North Bay. Orangeville followed, then a brief excursion to the West, then Guelph, Orangeville again, and finally Kincardine in 1999 when she married Gord and moved there with her sons. Margie worked at many jobs, including hair-dressing, which she continued to do, occasionally and informally, for the rest of her life. She also volunteered variously over the years with Day Surgery, Hospice, Community Living Friendship, and at the Clothes Hamper. Her creativity was endless. In the dark one night, early in their marriage, Gord was blown away to see stars shining down on them from their bedroom ceiling. That was just the beginning of the transformation not just of Gord’s drab bachelor pad, but of his life, of both their lives, thanks largely to her dissatisfaction with the status quo and her love of colour and novelty. In 2023, accompanied by her brother, Ted, Margie was blessed with a trip back to her homeland of India. They visited their mountain-top school and reconnected with old schoolmates for the first time in many years. It was fitting that this return to her roots would occur just a year before the diagnosis that would herald the end of her earthly walk. A memorial service for family and friends to honour Margie, will be held at the Davey-Linklater Funeral Home, Kincardine, May 10, beginning at 1:30 p.m., followed by refreshments and a time to share memories. Thank you to all who took such good care of her and her husband, Gord, in their home these past few months; to family and friends, Dr. Pamela Gill, Dr. Damian Gunaratne, Dr. Donna Ward, the Care Partner nurses, the staff of Kincardine Hospital and Ontario Health at Home, and Dr. John Stirrat and the staff at Walkerton Hospital. If you wish to remember Margie materially, please donate to Community Living of Kincardine and District.