Virginia Elizabeth (Clark) Easley, 99, passed into eternal rest on Monday, May 30, 2016 at the Gunnison Senior Care Center, Gunnison, Colo.
Born in Chelsea, Okla. on Feb. 1, 1917, youngest child of William A. and Lillie (Berry) Clark, she lived a full life, surrounded by friends and family wherever she went. She was forever proud of her Native American Cherokee heritage. Virginia was one of the young women who helped the war effort, packing ammunition and explosives during World War II.
She married Willis A. “Dick” Easley in 1940, and raised their four sons in Yukon, Okla. She attended nursing school in Vinita, Okla., and over the years the couple had various businesses, including a drive-in diner, a feed and seed store, and Dick’s insurance business. In earlier years, she belonged to many clubs, including the Garden Club, Magna Carta and DAR. She loved gardening both vegetables and fl owers, and was an avid bird enthusiast.
For over 50 years, she split her time between Oklahoma and the Colorado summer place until she made Almont, Colo. her permanent home. They started camping above Crested Butte on the advice of friends, and then had the first trailer placed at Th ree Rivers Resort when the Cranors expanded to include a mobile/motor home park. Over the years, more relatives made summer homes in Almont, and this led to a week-long Clark-Easley family reunion for the past 30 years. She was well known for her cobblers, some with Cherokee Country huckleberries and others with Colorado fruits like peach, apricot or apples. Her hospitality included her sons and grandson’s fishing and hunting buddies. Everyone called her “Mom” and a plaque in the kitchen proclaimed her “Cobbler Queen” of Almont, Colo.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981; her parents; her eight siblings and their spouses; and two sons Jerry and Joseph Easley. She is survived by sons W. A. “Dick”, Jr. (Bonnie) of Shawnee, Kan.; and William (Christy) of Mustang, Okla.; daughters-in-law Dana Easley of Moore, Okla. and Laura Easley of Olathe, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; 18-plus great-grandchildren; and two-plus great-great grandchildren.
Numerous nieces and nephews and their families have enjoyed their Aunt VA’s hospitality over the years in Yukon and Colorado. She would gladly play dominoes, gin rummy, or other card games, so there were many late nights at the Easley place.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at First United Methodist Church in Yukon, Okla., with interment to follow at the Clark family plot in the Chelsea Cemetery in Chelsea, Okla.
The family wishes to extend deep gratitude to the Gunnison Hospice team (especially Cathy, Krista and Denise) for their excellent care and concern during Virginia’s time spent at the Senior Care Center. In lieu of her beloved flowers, donations can be made in Virginia’s memory to: Cherokee Nation (Medical Services) at www.cherokee.org, in care of Lacey Horn, Treasurer, P.O. Box 809, Tahlequah, Okla. 74465.
Virginia Elizabeth (Clark) Easley, 99, passed into eternal rest on Monday, May 30, 2016 at the Gunnison Senior Care Center, Gunnison, Colo.
Born in Chelsea, Okla. on Feb. 1, 1917, youngest child of William A. and Lillie (Berry) Clark, she lived a full life, surrounded by friends and family wherever she went. She was forever proud of her Native American Cherokee heritage. Virginia was one of the young women who helped the war effort, packing ammunition and explosives during World War II.
She married Willis A. “Dick” Easley in 1940, and raised their four sons in Yukon, Okla. She attended nursing school in Vinita, Okla., and over the years the couple had various businesses, including a drive-in diner, a feed and seed store, and Dick’s insurance business. In earlier years, she belonged to many clubs, including the Garden Club, Magna Carta and DAR. She loved gardening both vegetables and fl owers, and was an avid bird enthusiast.
For over 50 years, she split her time between Oklahoma and the Colorado summer place until she made Almont, Colo. her permanent home. They started camping above Crested Butte on the advice of friends, and then had the first trailer placed at Th ree Rivers Resort when the Cranors expanded to include a mobile/motor home park. Over the years, more relatives made summer homes in Almont, and this led to a week-long Clark-Easley family reunion for the past 30 years. She was well known for her cobblers, some with Cherokee Country huckleberries and others with Colorado fruits like peach, apricot or apples. Her hospitality included her sons and grandson’s fishing and hunting buddies. Everyone called her “Mom” and a plaque in the kitchen proclaimed her “Cobbler Queen” of Almont, Colo.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981; her parents; her eight siblings and their spouses; and two sons Jerry and Joseph Easley. She is survived by sons W. A. “Dick”, Jr. (Bonnie) of Shawnee, Kan.; and William (Christy) of Mustang, Okla.; daughters-in-law Dana Easley of Moore, Okla. and Laura Easley of Olathe, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; 18-plus great-grandchildren; and two-plus great-great grandchildren.
Numerous nieces and nephews and their families have enjoyed their Aunt VA’s hospitality over the years in Yukon and Colorado. She would gladly play dominoes, gin rummy, or other card games, so there were many late nights at the Easley place.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at First United Methodist Church in Yukon, Okla., with interment to follow at the Clark family plot in the Chelsea Cemetery in Chelsea, Okla.
The family wishes to extend deep gratitude to the Gunnison Hospice team (especially Cathy, Krista and Denise) for their excellent care and concern during Virginia’s time spent at the Senior Care Center. In lieu of her beloved flowers, donations can be made in Virginia’s memory to: Cherokee Nation (Medical Services) at www.cherokee.org, in care of Lacey Horn, Treasurer, P.O. Box 809, Tahlequah, Okla. 74465.
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