Kevin Edward Lusty, 59, of Austin, passed away at his home Thursday, January 30, 2025.  He was born December 8, 1965 in Jacksonville to Carl and Claudette Lusty.  Anyone who was around Kevin for very long knew he was "made of steel".  He was a house framer, truck driver and worked in the foundry at Regal, but he was best known as a concrete finisher.

In his younger years, Kevin played football at Cabot and also played trombone in the band.  He was a bull rider, coon hunter and pool player. Kevin deer hunted with his dad at deer camp in Prescott, crappie fished with him at Millwood Lake and spent many a Father's Day week with him at the Petit Jean Car Show.

Kevin was fearless.  He once dove from the cliffs at Heber Springs to rescue a friend in trouble, and another time he pulled a man and baby from a burning car before the emergency vehicles arrived.  Aside from his fearless and sometimes reckless side, Kevin had a softer side.  He was definitely a "momma's boy" who he loved with all his heart.

He loved nature, especially the hummingbirds that he kept fed from April to October.  Kevin also had a "green thumb" that could be seen from his potted plants to his chestnut trees.  He was a meticulous lawn mower and, of course, no one could do it as good as he could.

Kevin was a grill master and would cook up a smorgasbord of meats for everyone, especially during the summer holidays.  In his opinion, it wasn't really grilling unless it was with charcoal.

He was an avid movie watcher, especially old westerns, and he had seen every episode of MASH more times than you could count.  Throughout his life, Kevin had numerous four-legged friends that he loved sometimes more than his two-legged ones.  He loved music of all kinds – from Pink Floyd to Alan Jackson and was always picking (sometimes banging) on his guitar.

One of Kevin's greatest joys was spending time with his grandkids telling them stories, teaching them how to ride a bike and how to properly mow the grass, "getting their ear", having them pull his finger, "barking spiders", and yes, letting them know he was "made of steel".  Kevin was much loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents, VanL and Marie Griffin, Jim and Betty Lusty; father, Carl Lusty and precious daughter, Felicia Lusty Jones.

Kevin is survived by his loving wife, Mary; his mother, Claudette Lusty; his sister, Alicia Lusty Pritchard (Aaron); his daughter, Vannette Lusty Stover (Anthony); grandchildren, Bayleigh, Kayden and Lesley Jones, Lysander and Quita Stover, as well as Aaron and Alicia's children, Dakota Kramer and Shyloh Pritchard, who also affectionately called him Grandpa.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home with Brother Ben Leonard officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.