Hilda Louise (Austin) Roe was born on June 26, 1931, and passed January 16, 2025 at the age of She was born in Lenoir, North Carolina to Hazel Belle (Ledford) and Gaither Hill Austin. She graduated from Lenoir High School as valedictorian in 1949, and then from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She was the first in her family to attend college, which inspired several of her siblings to do so as well, two of them also attending Berea. She was encouraged to apply to Berea by her high school Latin teacher.
Her first teaching job was in a three-room school in Harlan County, Kentucky. She later obtained a master’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Wyoming-Laramie in 1958, and while there participated in a travel program for teachers funded by the Ford Foundation.
She came to Harrison, Michigan in 1956 to teach, encouraged by a friend who told her that in Michigan teachers made more money. She met her husband, Robert (Bob) Charles Roe in Harrison, introduced by a mutual friend, Shirley Miller. They were married in Harrison on August 23, 1957. She taught in Lansing, MI., while her husband obtained a degree at Michigan State University, as well as in Shepherd, MI and Marietta, GA. Most of her career was spent teaching third grade in Harrison, specifically in Amble School.
She and Bob had three children: Katherine (Kathy) (Husband Dyche) Anderson of Plymouth, MI; Janet (Husband Chris) Hershberger, Lansing, MI; and Austin (wife Peggy) Roe of Harrison, MI. They had five grandchildren: Bekki (Schmitt) and Abby Jankoviak (Kathy); and Sonia (Mertz), Alice, and Ross Roe (Austin). She also had five great grandchildren: Fritz and Katie Schmitt (Bekki and John Schmitt); Henry, Lucy, and Olivia Mertz (Sonia and Andrew Mertz).
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, two brothers: Tom (Carol) Austin and Kyle (Jean) Austin; two sisters Asilee (Collis) Nelson and Kate Wynn, several nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law; Mary Jean (Roe) Dwyer, and Jo Ann (Roe) Farabee. She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Bob of 50 years (died February 26, 2008), as well as three brothers; Ledford, Gordon, and Robert.
She was a long-time member of the United Brethren Church in Harrison. Her faith and family were the most important things to her. She was also a member of the Harrison Women’s Club and Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP) of Clare County for many years. She enjoyed traveling, and saw most of the continental United States.
Funeral services honoring Louise will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. from Harrison United Brethren Church, 250 East Main Street, Harrison, with Pastor Wendy Kindell officiating. Visitation will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow in late spring of 2025 at Hamilton Township Cemetery, Harrison. Memorial gifts in honor of Mrs. Roe may be considered to: Harrison United Brethren Church or Berea College. To share an online memory or condolence with Louise’s family, please visit: www.clarkstocking.com. Arrangements for Mrs. Roe are entrusted with Clark-Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service (989)539-7810.