Obituary - Austin Jennings Bucklin

Austin Jennings Bucklin, 18, passed away July 11, 2017.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. July 20, 2017, at the Chinook Presbyterian Church with burial to follow at Kuper Memorial Cemetery and a luncheon at Wallner Hall.

He was born Dec. 31, 1998, in Laramie, Wyoming, and was the oldest son of Charley and Natalie (Barber) Bucklin. He attended schools in Chinook, Montana; Cut Bank, Montana; Rigby, Idaho; and White Salmon, Washington. He graduated from Columbia High School in June 2017 with honors and was a gifted athlete and team leader.

Austin had a radiance and glow about him from the day he was born. Naturally charismatic and friendly, he had a magnetic personality that many were drawn to. Always respectful, warm, kindhearted, patient and gentle, Austin was also known for his incredible smile. He could light up a room with that infectious smile and make any stranger an instant friend. They broke the mold when they made Austin. He could lift up your spirits with his compassion and laughter, motivate you to do better than you thought you could by sheer drive and determination, and he had a way of giving every person a sense of purpose.

Austin loved his family and friends dearly and was extraordinarily close to his siblings, whom he helped take care of and watch over. Though Austin was only on this earth for 18 years, he took full advantage of that time by inspiring those he met to be better - better athletes, better scholars, better friends, better teammates and just be better to those around us.

Austins' activities included FFA, football, baseball, jazz band, student body council (ASB), peewee football coach, hockey, mutton busting and dirt biking.

Austin will be missed dearly by so many. His motivation, inspiration, leadership and positive influence will live on forever through his family, friends, and community.

Austin is survived by his parents, Charley and Natalie; brothers, Chandlor and George; sister, Danika; maternal grandparents, Steve and Marilyn McLain; paternal grandmother, Helen Bucklin; great-grandmothers, Beverly Rusch and Ann Geske; and aunt and uncles James (Shelly) Barber, Jill (Jeremy) Couch, Georgia (Craig) Beiswanger, Laura (Brian) Thomas, and Sarah Bucklin. Also surviving are numerous great aunts and uncles, cousins, and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, George (Tom) Barber, and paternal grandfather, Gene Bucklin.