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JOHN F. EASTERLY PASSES TO REWARD

John Francis Easterly, son of Phillip [spelled this way in the article] and Sarah Easterly, was born southeast of Murpysboro, Illinois, February 1, 1887. [Someone has traced the numeral 1 over the date originally written after February in this copy of the obituary.] When yet a young man his parents moved to Ora Township, near Ava, Illinois, on the farm now owned by the Jakie Hiser Estate, where he grew to manhood.

On March 4, 1881, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Jane Cheatham.
To this union seven children were born. Two sons, Leslie and Aubrey, preceded him in death.

Mr. Easterly and his wife lived on a farm for many years, during which time he was a thresherman for 39 years. He and his wife moved to Ava, Illinois, where he resided until the death of Mrs. Easterly April 24, 1926. [My record gives her death date as April 25.] He has spent several years of his life in California during winter and returning to Illinois for the summer.

Mr. Easterly served as a custodian of the Ava school for 23 years.

Mr. Easterly was a consistent Christian. He united with the Free Will Baptist Church at Ava, Illinois, February 2, 1892, under the pastorship of Rev. J. L. Meads. He was elected trustee of the church October 17, 1896, and was ordained a deacon November 17, 1900, under the pastorship of Rev. J. J. Tatum. He helped build the old church, also the present church building.

Mr. Easterly has been in poor health for the past few years. He passed away at St. Andrew's Hospital, Murphysboro, Sunday, February 13, 1944, at the age of 87 years and 12 days.

He leaves to mourn his passing five children, Charley and Gordon of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Nora Talbott of Huntington Park, California, Mrs. Burch Stout and Mrs. Ida Brouillette, both of Ava; two sisters and one brother, Mrs. Jane Johnson of Ava, Mrs. Rebecca Goodwin and Charlie Easterly both of Pueblo, Colorada. One sister, Mrs. Mary Bagwill, and three brothers, Louis H. Brownlow and Edward preceded h...