ROSINE, Ky. — Doris “Merlene” Austin, 85, of Rosine, passed away on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Ohio County Healthcare. She was born on Nov. 13, 1939, in Rosine, to the late Leslie Dukes and the late Reba Rafferty Monroe.
Merlene was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church, and she retired from Cowden’s. She also worked for Dollar General.
She was chosen to receive the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which is that of Kentucky Colonel by Governor Paul Patton for her many hours giving tours at the Bill Monroe Homeplace (2001-2017) and Uncle Pen’s Cabin (2013-present), talking about the Monroe Family and Uncle Pen. Always telling about how their mother, Malissa, encouraged them to play their music.
Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Scotty Monroe; her second husband, James Austin; two brothers, Darrell Dukes and Lorice Dukes; and one sister, Marcene Dukes.
She leaves behind to cherish many memories, her sons, Barry (Donita) Monroe, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Larry (Patricia) Monroe, of Daleville, Alabama (Fort Novosel); stepson, Terry (Linda) Austin, of Rosine; two brothers, Lowell (Deloris) Dukes, of Central City, Kentucky, and Jackie (Ruth) Dukes, of Clinton, Illinois; one sister, Geraldean (Robert) Ingram, of Beaver Dam; and one sister-in-law, Doris Dukes, of Bloomington, Illinois. She was blessed with six grandchildren, Charles (Katarina) Monroe, William Monroe, Melissa Monroe (Justin) Ryder, Jonathon Monroe, Brennan Monroe, and Jenna Monroe; one step-grandchild, Jason Austin; and great-grandson, Michael Wayne Ryder, and one on the way.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Bro. Jerry Toler officiating. Burial will follow in Rosine Cemetery in Rosine. Friends may visit Merlene’s family from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Thursday at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence may be left for the family of Doris Merlene Austin by visiting her memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.
