Austin Nicholas Velasquez

Austin Nicholas Velasquez was born in Lake Wales, Florida on January 4, 1997.

He is survived by his wife Harley Jane Velasquez, parents Christopher and Kimberly Velasquez, brother Cameron Velasquez, paternal grandmother, Annetta Jo Velasquez, maternal grandparents Julia Jordan and William Lamar Robinson and six cousins.

Austin graduated from Avon Park High School in 2015 where he was a member of the wrestling team and National Honor Society. After graduation, Austin attended South Florida State College and pursued a degree in criminal justice. After completing the Criminal Justice Academy in 2018 he began working for the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Austin most recently worked as a team member at Anderson Arms in Avon Park manufacturing ammunition. Austin was creative and always found pleasure in creating things with his hands.

On September 19, 2019, Austin married his beautiful high school sweetheart, Harley Shafer in a private ceremony. They lived in Avon Park and cherished spending time together with their family and friends. Austin was an affectionate young man that dearly loved his family as well as his cat, Elon.

Throughout the years Austin enjoyed target shooting, hunting, fishing, snorkeling, riding ATVs and attending church at Grace Bible. He loved going to Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando, watching scary movies with his wife and watching UFC events with his dad.                                                                     

Austin had accepted Jesus Christ as his lord and savior.                               

Jesus called Austin home to become an angel on April 7, 2022 when he died in a fatal car accident in Okeechobee, Florida. He is free now, and although our hearts are broken, we know we will meet again in heaven.

A celebration of his life will be held on April 14, 2022 at 4:00 PM at Grace Bible Church, Sebring.