April 14, 1939 — Sept. 19, 2023      

Kenneth Wayne Augustus, aka Ken to businesspeople, Wayne to his family (his dad was also named Kenneth), Gus to his fellow Coast Guardsmen and friends, Dad to his children and Grandpa Gus to his grandchildren, passed away on Sept. 19 in Portland, at age 84. He lived in Seaside at the time of his passing.

Dad’s paternal fourth great-grandfather arrived in America in 1753 as a sponsored indentured servant, and later served in the Revolutionary War. Later, his grandfather’s family rode a train, referred to as the Immigrant Train, as far as Omaha, Nebraska. They then bought a wagon and horses to continue to their destination, Calhan, Colorado. His family remained in the Southwest region.

Born in Portales, New Mexico, on April 14, 1939, Dad was the only child of Kenneth, a newspaper linotype operator, and Ruby Augustus, a schoolteacher. They lived in Ogden, Utah, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, before settling in Boulder City, Nevada. Dad graduated from Boulder City High School in 1957.

After giving the University of Arizona a try for one year, Dad joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served for 23 years. He married Michael (Myke) Shrum from Ketchikan, Alaska, in 1962. They had three children, Conrad Eric Augustus, Staci Anne Augustus and Deborah Sue Augustus.

Dad’s career took the family all over the West Coast, from San Diego to Kodiak, Alaska, and many places in between. He spent one year at Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the early 1960s, and served on cutters Cape Romain, White Holly (twice), Bittersweet, Cape Higgon, Point Divide and Citrus before joining the 17th Coast Guard District offices in Juneau, Alaska, in 1973.

Except for 1976 to 1978, when Dad was stationed at Coast Guard Station Astoria, the family lived in Juneau until 1982, a year after he retired. The family moved to Sequim, Washington, where Mom and Dad divorced. Dad moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to be near family and, after several years, relocated to Seaside, where he would spend the rest of his life.

While stationed at Corona del Mar, California, Dad was selected to serve on one of two Coast Guard patrol boats protecting President Richard Nixon when he was at his San Clemente property.

In 1976, Dad was stationed in Juneau, traveling for work on an Alaska Airlines flight, when it crashed off the runway in Ketchikan. Instead of self-rescuing, Dad risked his life to rescue others. His actions that day were recognized by the president and Coast Guard when they awarded him the Coast Guard Medal, the highest peacetime heroism award.

His citation reads: “Before attempting to exit from the burning wreck, Master Chief Petty Officer Augustus, a member of the 17th Coast Guard District Staff Inspection Team, freed a trapped and injured stewardess and assisted her to the forward cabin door.

“After the stewardess had been lifted from the aircraft and carried to safety, he descended to the muskeg below, braced himself against the fuselage, and assisted the escaping passengers while acting as a ‘human ladder.’

“With total disregard for his personal safety, Master Chief Petty Officer Augustus courageously returned to the cockpit area of the aircraft in an attempt to rescue the trapped pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer.

“Constantly faced with the threat of a devastating explosion, he nonetheless remained at the scene of the conflagration and rescued an elderly woman who was precariously hanging by her foot from an open door.

“Undaunted, Master Chief Petty Officer Augustus again returned to the cockpit area and was thwarted in his attempts to gain access on the left side of the fuselage. Without hesitation, he traversed under the nose of the burning plane to the right side, where entry was once again thwarted.

“In search of the necessary access equipment, he then proceeded up a nearby hillside to an airport crash truck. The hapless crewmembers were subsequently rescued as additional assistance arrived on scene.

“Master Chief Petty Officer Augustus demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude, and heroic daring in spite of grave personal danger during this aircraft disaster. His unselfish actions, courage and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Dad was self-taught in many areas, and happily spent time learning through books. He prided himself on his simple life; living by himself, no television or computer, listening to NPR on the radio, and calling the weather service to get the forecast every day.

He loved telling a story of him calling a store in San Francisco to order something. The lady who answered the phone told him to order it online. He told her he didn’t have a computer and she responded, “Oh, you’re a dinosaur!” He got a big kick out of that.

From his childhood dog, Booty, to his final dog, Fiona, Dad loved dogs, and greatly enjoyed their company his whole life. His memory and recall were amazing — he could remember the smallest of details about seemingly unimportant things.

He was a master woodcrafter and a master sourdough bread maker. His attention to detail was unsurpassed in everything he did. Visiting family learned over the years which days he was able to visit, based on what bread day of the week it was — don’t plan to visit on proofing or baking day!

He was preceded in death by his parents; ex-wife, Myke; daughter, Debbie; and Debbie’s spouse, Shawn Lewis.

He is survived by his son, Eric, and his sons, Michael and Gaelen Augustus; daughter, Staci, and her spouse, Rob Austin, and their daughter, Kiera Messing; granddaughter, Hailey Lewis (Debbie’s daughter); several cousins; and his close friends, Art and Randy Reith, and Don and Nancy Nolan.

A private memorial will take place in the future.

Instead of flowers, please consider donating to a local animal shelter, or his favorite charity, Best Friends.