Austin Lloyd Booth, age 20 of Independence, Missouri passed away on November 27, 2022 at his home, from complications of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Austin was born December 17, 2001 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Austin graduated from Van Horn High School in Independence, Missouri in 2020. He enjoyed playing percussion in band throughout junior high school and high school and was a member of marching band as well. Even after losing the ability to play the traditional way, his band instructor made sure to find an inclusive way via iPad and/or iPhone using a musical application and a speaker system on wheels.

At the age of 8, Austin had the honor of being selected by Red Bull for their “Give Kids Wings” program, which provided him the experience of riding to school in the Red Bull Nascar race car. The entire school awaited his arrival on the school’s asphalt playground. Cory, his driver, pulled into the playground and 1proceeded to do several donuts, resulting in the awesome cheers from his schoolmates and the staff. The event was filmed and aired by 4 local television stations. He was a celebrity for the day at school, and even had a few requests for his autograph.

At the age of 9, Austin was selected by the Muscular Dystrophy Association to be that year’s local Missouri Good Will Ambassador. He spent the year bringing awareness to muscular dystrophies and helping with several local fundraising events.

Austin participated for several years in fundraising for the MDA, including 5K Muscle Walks/runs, Coach to Cure MD at Avila College, Shamrock sales/promotion at several local participating businesses, Serving Up Cures and his own personal pool tournaments.

Austin and his parents spent several years giving a presentation to the second-year medical students at the University of Kansas, about muscular dystrophy and how it affects the entire family. He made such an impression upon those students that they always signed thank you cards stating how much he had inspired them and how it would affect their future decisions in the medical field.

In 2014, Austin was granted his wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to go to the NFL’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii. His parents were lucky to be able to go with him, along with his sister Michelle and her family. The time he shared with all of us there have continued to give us all such amazing memories that we will cherish forever. As a result, Austin and his family have continued to support and raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Although Austin was physically unable to participate in the many sports that he loved, he turned his time to becoming a big fan of Nascar (Tony Stewart was his favorite driver), the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football team (Jamal Charles was his favorite player), the Kansas City Royals MLB baseball team (his favorite player was Alex Gordon), and the Boston Celtics NBA basketball team (Kevin Garnett was his favorite player), as well as the MU Tigers for college football. Austin had an amazing ability to keep track of all these sports teams, their opponents and all their statistics. He would have made an excellent television sports broadcaster. He was so good and accurate that we preferred to listen to him rather than the commentators on TV.

Although his life was shortened by DMD, to know him was to love him. He touched the hearts and souls of everyone who got to know him. He really had no clue as to how many people he inspired over his lifetime, but he got a little taste of it with all those who came to see him or reached out to him during his last few weeks.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Tiff N Jays, 700 NE Woods Chapel Road, Lees Summit, Missouri 64064, from noon to 4:30 pm, in the downstairs event space. The event space can be accessed through the upstairs restaurant, or the outside accessible ramp below the outside deck. We ask that you wear your favorite sports attire, whatever sport/team/player you prefer, to honor him.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of the following organizations that were dear to his heart. It was impossible to narrow it down to just one.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a non-profit national organization founded in 1994 by parents of children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, who have dedicated their lives to assist other families with Duchenne/Becker, and to fund research, that has already led to some treatments for the disease and will continue to until a cure has been found, and beyond. www.parentprojectmd.org
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting wishes for children diagnosed with critical illnesses. www.wish.org
Neuromuscular Access Initiative (NAI), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a community of empowerment and belonging for children and young adults with neuromuscular diseases. After our local MDA summer camp was discontinued, NAI was formed by a group of counselors dedicated to keeping a local camp for our children/young adults. Any of the counselors and campers will tell you that Camp Milton is “the best week of the year” for all of them. www.nainitiative.com
MpowerD KC (formerly known as the Young Adult Support Group, who had aged out of Camp Milton). This non-profit organization aims to give teens and young adults with physical disabilities in the Kansas City area the courage to take on all of life’s challenges and live without limitations. They provide activities and group outings for these young adults to spend with their peers as well as a camp of their own each summer. www.mpowerdkc.com
Austin was preceded in death by his grandparents Lloyd & Mary Booth and Carl & Elaine Moudy, his aunt Vickie Bowman, and his uncles Randy Booth and Allen Booth.

Survivors include his mother Valerie Booth; his father Darrel Moudy; his sisters Michelle Stock and Chasity Moudy; his brother Jeremy Moudy; his niece Isabelle Moudy; his nephews Bradley Anderson, Jacob Anderson, Owen Stock, Isaiah Moudy, Matthew Rocha, Gabe Rocha and Oliver Stock; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and one great nephew.

Obituary submitted by family.

Arrangements: Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home Independence, MO (816) 796-8600