"A Cageian conceptual avant gardist." This was the description the New York Times once gave Larry Don Austin who passed away peacefully at age 88. Larry was a prolific composer with almost 60 years of experimental music. For Larry, if he was not challenging the concepts of what defined music, he was not satisfied. He once wrote, "Music is dead, long live music."

More importantly, Larry was a family man who considered all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren above average. He was preceded in death by his wife Edna Austin to whom he was married for 59 years and who he jokingly introduced as his current wife. He leaves a loving family that includes his daughters; Aurora Pucciarello (Michael) of Flower Mound, Elizabeth (Liz) Sharpe (Larry) of Jacksonville, Florida and Thais Austin of Washington, D.C., sons, L. Don Austin (Kathleen)of Plano and David Austin of Monroe, Georgia, brother, David Austin (Jackie) of Round Rock, Texas, thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Larry started his music career as a child in Vernon, Texas when he began playing trumpet only because his arms were too short for the trombone. He discovered a talent and love for music that gave him a singular focus and passion for his entire life. He went on to study at North Texas State University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Beginning in 1958, Larry began a long and distinguished university teaching career where he was a member of the faculties of the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Davis, and the University of South Florida before returning to the place where it all began, the University of North Texas.

His extensive career had many highlights including a televised performance by the New York Philharmonic under conductor Leonard Bernstein in the sixties, the creation and publication of the magazine Source: Music of the Avant-Garde, and the performance of his Universe Symphony at Carnegie Hall which he also conducted at age 82.

Larry's legacy will continue through his large and loving family, his music and writings and his mentorship and friendships with his colleagues.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Edna Austin, his children Helen and John Austin, his mother and father Jess and Thais Austin, and his brother, Kelly Austin.

A rosary will be said at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 3, 2019 with family visitation to follow until 8:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mark Catholic church in Argyle, Texas on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. with interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton.