David Dowdell Easley, Sr., 68, died on Friday evening, November 3, 2023, and is now at home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A native of Port Gibson, Mississippi and resident of Cedar Bluff, Mississippi, he is preceded in death by his father, Obadiah W. Easley, Jr.; his parents, Malcolm and Jane Easley Montgomery; and two sons, Scott Dowdell Easley and Gregory John Easley.
David leaves behind his faithful wife of 42 years, Marilyn McBride Easley; his children, Amanda Criss (Jody) of Slate Spring, MS; Ellen Wallace (Ryan) of Madison, MS; David Easley, Jr. (Taylor) of Madison, MS; Sarah Vaughan (Paul) of Cedar Bluff, MS; and Adam Easley (Shana) of Starkville, MS; his brother, Oby W. Easley, III; his sisters, Martha Harpole, Marianne Granier, and Marilyn Lambert; many beloved nieces and nephews; and 13 very well-loved grandchildren.
David served as the Mississippi State University Foundation Executive Director of Finance and CFO, retiring in 2019 after almost 33 years at MSU. He was also known as an advocate for home school families as President of the Mississippi Home Educators Association. He is remembered for leading worship, whether at a campsite with his guitar or leading music in church, as well as for his sense of humor, his kindness, and his integrity. His memory is cherished most of all, though, by those who know him as “dad” and “PawPaw.”
Visitation will be Monday, November 6, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, MS and Tuesday, November 7, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Starkville, MS. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church and burial will follow at Memorial Garden Park in Starkville, MS.
Pallbearers are David’s nephews: Brian Coon, David Coon, Jeffrey Coon, Richard Cross, Jake Easley, Ben Goza, Derrick Harpole, Jeff Harpole, John Lambert, Marcus McBride, and Ben Petit.
The Easley family gratefully acknowledges the love and prayers poured out for their family during David’s illness of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The family expresses deep appreciation also to North MS Home Health and Gentiva Hospice; to David’s church family, Broadmoor Baptist Church; to the many compassionate caregivers; and to Emmanuel Baptist Church for hosting the family for funeral services.
The family requests that donations in David’s memory be directed to the Starkville Pregnancy Care Center, P.O. Box 487, Starkville, MS 39760. To read an extended obituary, or to leave amessage for his family and honor his memory, you are invited to visit his blog, “PawPaw’s Ponderings”: www.DavidDEasley.com
