Mildred Ervin Easterly

Mildred Ervin Easterly, 92, of Cleveland, passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2012. A native of Bradley Country, in 1965 she and her husband Bob established their home on Triple Creek Farm in the Black Fox community, where she was living at the time of her death. As a young woman, Mildred worked as a beautician. In 1956, she and Bob founded the family floor covering business, which became Easterly's Incorporated. She was inducted into the Bradley Country Old-Timer's Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 for high school basketball. She played guard for the Bradley Bearettes, including the1938 team, which competed in the state championship tournament. Mildred was honored in 1999 by First Baptist Church for 50 years of service to the pre-school program. Her warmth, kindness and generosity made her an honorary grandmother to scores of children who grew up in that nursery. Because of Mildred and Bob's dedication to family life at the church, the childcare area there now features a farm theme inspired by church events hosted by the Easterlys at Triple Creek Farm. For 15 years, Mildred was a volunteer at Bradley Memorial Hospital. She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star for over five decades. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Robert Henry Easterly, Sr.; parents, George Winstead Ervin, Sr. and Claudia Pearl Panky Ervin; sister, Dean Bigham; and brothers, Carl Ervin, George Ervin, Jr., Jim Ervin and Bob Ervin. Her survivors include her children, Jack Easterly and wife, LaVerne, Phyllis Callaway and husband, Mike; and Jane Easterly & Bob Quinn, all of Cleveland, and Robert Easterly, Jr. of Maryville; grandchildren, Coleman Easterly and wife, Kathryn of Crozet, VA, Alan Easterly and wife, Lee of Lookout Mountain, Lynda Easterly Bryant and husband, Pat of Farragut, Libby Callaway of Nashville, Marie Kellner and husband, Jeff of Boise, ID, Millie Callaway of Nashville and Forrest Easterly and Hannah Easterly, both of Knoxville; 8 great grandchildren, (Coleman) Jack and Clay Easterly of Crozet, VA, (Alan) Ellie, Margaret and Ben Easterly of Lookout Mountain and (Lynda) Stanley, Spencer and Annie Bryant of Farragut; brother, Don Ervin of Cleveland; several nieces and nephews; and her loving and devoted caregivers: her niece, Donna Carter, and Elaine Avratin, Darline Bell and Mercy Simpson. Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Pastor Jim Gibson officiating. Interment will follow in Fort Hill Cemetery with grandsons and great grandsons serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Grissom Funeral Home and on Sunday one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering via the International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA, 23230-0767. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Easterly family guest book at www.grissomfh.net.