Douglas Wayne Austin died in his sleep on September 4, 2011, after a long battle with complications stemming from diabetes.

Doug was born on May 22, 1957, in Hutchinson, Kansas. When he was five years old, his family moved to a farm outside of Minneapolis, Kansas, where he grew up. After high school, he attended Cloud County Community College. One of his favorite memories there was dancing the polka with his grandmother, Leola Bradbury, at a college dance performance. After CCCC, he attended Emporia State University and majored in drama.
On a great adventure, he moved with his mother, sister, and nephew to Blanding, Utah, in 1981. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Brazil and Oregon beginning in 1982. After his mission, he took classes at the College of Eastern Utah-San Juan Campus and then transferred to Southern Utah University where he continued his degree in drama and performed in several of the university's musicals.

When he returned to Blanding, he met and married Rhea Laws. Although they didn't have any children of their own, he loved her children from a previous marriage, and they soon took into their home two more boys, Bruce and Allen. During that time, with the help of his mother, he ran a local bakery, and many people still remember his delectable pastries. He was also one of the founding members of the Edge of the Seaters theater group. He helped with the sets and performed in many of the plays.

He moved back to Kansas in 2000. Throughout his life, one of his greatest joys was playing Santa Claus. Despite ill health, he played Santy for individual families, for community events, and at the mall in Salina, Kansas. He will be missed by many for the happiness he provided in his greatest role as Old Saint Nick.

Doug is survived by his mother, Norma Austin; his father, Charles Austin; his brother, Tom (Karalee) Austin; his sister, Merry (Ted) Palmer; his aunts and uncles; his step-children; his nieces, nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, September 9, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis where Doug will be buried near his beloved grandmother. There will be no visitation.