What made Austin different from most people I know? 

Well, he always had a smile on his face whenever I saw him. It was clear that he truly cared about others and what they were going through even as he was battling cancer. Out of all of my son's friends, I would have to say that he was my favorite and I was always glad to see him. I miss you, Austin! 

In January, 2023 our son, Greg Peck, was going to move into my Mama's house across the driveway from us. She had passed on 12-2-22. Austin helped Greg load all of his furniture into a Uhaul and unload it here at the house. Once it was unloaded, he helped Greg load all of my Mama's furniture that was going to my brother into the Uhaul to be delivered to him. 

When they were all finished, Greg and Austin walked across the driveway to our house. Austin came in and wrapped me up in a big hug and told me how sorry he was to learn of my Mama's passing. It was so heartfelt and full of love. We visited for a few minutes and then they were off to deliver and unload the furniture at my brother's house in Bremerton. 

Here was this young man, battling cancer and yet he stepped up to help his long time brother and also offer sympathy to me on my Mama's passing. He never ceased to amaze me. True love and kindness in that young man all the way to the end. I love you and miss you, Austin. 

A poem requested by Austin for his memorial-

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there.

I did not die.

-Clare Harner

This is a reading that Austin requested for his memorial -

Eulogy from a Physicist

“You want a physicist to speak at your funeral. You want the physicist to talk to your grieving family about the conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died. You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world. You want the physicist to tell your weeping father that amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got.

And at one point you’d hope that the physicist would step down from the pulpit and walk to your brokenhearted spouse there in the pew and tell him that all the photons that ever bounced off your face, all the particles whose paths were interrupted by your smile, by the touch of your hair, hundreds of trillions of particles, have raced off like children, their ways forever changed by you. And as your widow rocks in the arms of a loving family, may the physicist let her know that all the photons that bounced from you were gathered in the particle detectors that are her eyes, that those photons created within her constellations of electromagnetically charged neurons whose energy will go on forever.

And the physicist will remind the congregation of how much of all our energy is given off as heat. There may be a few fanning themselves with their programs as he says it. And he will tell them that the warmth that flowed through you in life is still here, still part of all that we are, even as we who mourn continue the heat of our own lives.

And you’ll want the physicist to explain to those who loved you that they need not have faith; indeed, they should not have faith. Let them know that they can measure, that scientists have measured precisely the conservation of energy and found it accurate, verifiable and consistent across space and time. You can hope your family will examine the evidence and satisfy themselves that the science is sound and that they’ll be comforted to know your energy’s still around. According to the law of the conservation of energy, not a bit of you is gone; you’re just less orderly. Amen.”

Aaron Freeman

 I wish we had met earlier in life. We 'found' each other on social media. He was my "baby" cousin who was such a kindred spirit. We talked tattoos, music, family - pretty much anything - a lot. When Austin, Danielle, Davis and Marlena came to Texas and surprised me at my office in San Angelo, it was just so special. We spent a couple of days together in San Antonio as a family and I will be forever grateful for the time we had. The random conversations are missed. Love to the Kershaws from Texas.

Man, I am so sorry to see this. Worked with both Austin and his dad Jim. Both great dudes. Gone way to young. My sincere condolences to the entire family.

I’ll always remember that tournament, it was so hot!!!  Middle of summer, 100 degrees in Wenatchee. Austin and both had long hair back then and we had the bright idea to have Amber braid our hair in little spider braids, thinking it would help keep us cool in the heat. Well after the first day there, we both had sun burnt scalps so bad we had blisters in a checker board pattern on both our heads!!! It was so painful taking those rubber bands out of our hair. Neither one of us could even comb our hair for a week. It wasn’t long after that, I shaved my head and didn’t grow my hair out again for over 10 years. 

       As amazing of a musician as he was, a G on the soccer field, but man!!!was he an awesome catcher!!! And had one of the most buttery smooth swings I’ve ever seen. It was so smooth it appeared to be slow, but some how put the ball over the fence with a “slow motion” swing! The guy was just a natural at pretty much wutever he did. And always did it all with a smile. 

    I only wish I would have stayed closer with him and some of the boys from our little Cedar Heights crew. I have a lot of love for Austin and his family! Jim, Cindy, Amber,  I hold a lot of memories very close to my heart that include u guys. I love u guys……

What a great testimony to the man that Austin was. A great turnout to honor his memory. 

Sorry for your loss. Such a great individual with a heart of gold.  Will always be remembered for who he was and what he stood for. 

My condolences go out to the entire Kershaw family as well as his SK Infidels bandmates. Austin was a great guy and a great drummer. I have great memories of the Thanksgivings I spent with the family at Jim and Cindy's house. Rest in peace, buddy. You will be forever missed.

It is truly heartbreaking to hear of such a tremendous loss of an amazing person. I spent a lot of time at the Kershaw house when I was growing up and Austin became like a little brother to me. He was never the annoying little brother hanging around. He was always kind and funny trying to make us laugh and he was always hilarious! I didn't see him  as an adult but we were friends on Facebook and I loved seeing his posts of his happy life and kids.  Pursuing his love of music and his traveling adventures with his beautiful family.  There are no words for the loss of such a beautiful soul and I cannot imagine the loss being felt by anyone who ever had the privilege to know him. My heart felt condolences go out to his entire family. P.S I can't help but remember when Amber and Angie and I came up with a dance and lip sync to Manic Monday and perhaps Austin saw this and was horrified so it was all rock and roll for him.  He was amazingly talented and us.. well not so much.