Austin Lance Jennings

Austin Lance Jennings, age 21, of Viola, Arkansas was born on July 30, 1996 in Mountain Home, Arkansas, son of Chris Ward and Kella Sharmin (Hudson) Jennings. He departed this life on December 31, 2017 in Springfield, Missouri.

Austin worked as a machine operator for Eaton Corporation in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Austin graduated from Viola High School in 2014 and from Arkansas State University of Mountain Home with an Associates of Arts and a welding certificate in 2017. Austin was very active in FFA and loved showing cattle at the county fair. Austin was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved hunting, fishing, trap shooting and the outdoors. Some of his fondest memories were when the family went on vacation to Colorado. He was a loving son, brother, friend and was a member of Salem First Baptist Church.

He leaves to mourn his passing; parents, Chris and Sharmin Jennings of Viola, Arkansas; brother, Logan Jennings of Viola, Arkansas; sister, Casey Akins of Flippin, Arkansas; grandparents, David and Barbara Jennings of Ash Flat, Arkansas and Judy Newton of Viola, Arkansas; aunt, Lisa Newton Burns and husband George of Memphis, Tennessee; three uncles, Gary Newton and wife Alanna of Little Rock, Arkansas, Lance Newton and wife Lindsay of Mountain Home, Arkansas and Brett Jennings and wife Carla of Buford, Arkansas; cousins, Tyler Jennings, Brody Jennings, Jed Newton, Lilly Newton, Landon Newton and Bennett Newton; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by two grandfathers, Marvin Newton and Kelly Hudson.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Salem First Baptist Church in Salem, Arkansas with Bro. John Hodges officiating. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas. Interment will be in the Shady Grove Cemetery in Viola, Arkansas. Pallbearers are Blaine Norris, Mike Thompson, Hunter Carr, Randall Langston, Tyler Neal and Blaine Overman. Honorary pallbearers are Ray Barker, Matt Cox, Caitlan Neal, Corby May, Byron Price and Shauna Price. Memorials may be made to the Newton Family Scholarship Foundation at the Bank of Salem. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home of Salem, Arkansas.