Edith Easley, 85
December 15, 1939 – July 12, 2025
“Think of your life as a wheel and keep it round. You can achieve more than you believed possible by keeping God, family, job, and personal time in perspective” – Edith Ann Easley
TUPELO, MS / FINDLAY, OH – Edith “Edie” Easley, 85, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 12, 2025, after a life devoted to family, faith, and service to others. Born December 15, 1939, in Ohio, Edie was a woman of strength, grace, and tireless dedication to every community she called home. She graduated from Fostoria High School in 1957 and that same year, on August 4th, she married the love of her life, James “Jim” Easley, beginning a partnership that would last nearly 60 years until his passing. Edie was a woman ahead of her time, a lifelong learner and a working mother who balanced family life with a growing professional career. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Technology and graduated Cum Laude from Tiffin University in 1975 after 15 years of marriage, children, and a full-time job.
Edie began her professional career at Cooper Tire in Findlay, OH, managing the switchboard, reception area, office training, and visitors. Shortly after being hired, her talent and work ethic quickly earned her a trusted role as secretary to multiple executives and finally to VP Pat Rooney. In 1979, she and Jim relocated to Tupelo, Mississippi, to help open the city’s Cooper Tire plant, becoming a southern belle in the process. Edie made history as the first woman hired at the Tupelo location, a role she embraced with pride and purpose. While at Cooper Tire Tupelo, she oversaw the startup of the Office Services section and established a Business Communication Committee. Edie supported the entire plant as Plant Secretary, from assisting the executives to encouraging the engineers and young female professionals with career advice.
Throughout her life, Edie dedicated herself to professional organizations that uplifted women and secretaries alike. She earned her Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) certification in 1977 and was honored as Secretary of the Year by the National Secretaries Association for the 1977–1978 term. She later served as Secretary and Treasurer of Professional Secretaries International and held leadership roles in the Findlay Star Chapter, including committee chairman and record secretary.
A proud and long-serving member of the Tupelo Area Business and Professional Women (BPW) from 1985–2012, Edie was twice elected President (1989–1990 and 2003–2004), and received the Woman of Achievement and Employer Responsiveness awards during the 1990–1991 term. She served her community in many other ways, as a member of The Mother’s Club and as Den Mother for the Boy Scouts in Bloomdale, OH (1969–1972), as well as a board member of the Tom Big Bee River Valley Water Management District, and as a board member of Leadership Lee County in Tupelo, MS. A woman of entrepreneurial spirit, Edie also opened First Mate’s Choice, a restaurant on Bay Springs Lake in 1993. Known for its catfish, steaks, and burgers, the restaurant operated for two seasons before Edie closed its doors and spent more time with her family.
As many of her friends could tell you, Edie was an avid baker and chef. Every Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas was hosted at the home she shared with Jim. Each meal was handcrafted down to the last crumb with her recipes passed down for years to come. Every Christmas, she would bake hundreds of cookies for neighbors, friends, family, and Cooper Tire employees. A proud runner, she won her age group in the 1986 Tallahatchie River Run 10K and participated in the Gum Tree 5K for five years. She was also a devoted traveler, having visited nearly every U.S. state (including Hawaii) and multiple countries including France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Wherever she went, Edie made lifelong friends and family, sending over 100 Christmas cards each year all over the world.
Faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bloomdale, OH for over 25 years, later attending Trinity Church of God and most recently Cornerstone Fellowship from 2009 until her passing in Tupelo, MS. She served the Lord with the entirety of her spirit, donating time, wisdom, and aid to her community. Edie enjoyed participating in worship and teaching future generations as a Sunday school teacher. It was often said of Edie that she had a special connection to children, as she loved every child she met as her own.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Cornerstone Fellowship Church, 1601 President Ave., Tupelo, MS with Dr. Jimmy Barnes officiating. Visitation will be from 5 PM to 7 PM on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo and again on Wednesday from 10 AM to service time at the church. Private family burial will take place at Knoll Crest Memorial Gardens in Arcadia, OH. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family.
Survivors include her daughter, Theresa “”Terri”” Beauvais (Rick) of Tupelo; two sons, Kip B. Easley and Darren V. Easley (Laurie), all of Tupelo; sister-in-laws, Carol Easley of Cincinnati, Ohio and Diane Newman of Springfield, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Anna Schuab (Jimmy), Andrew Easley, Dylan Beauvais (Kelsey), Belle Beauvais (Stephen), Heather Easley, Victoria Easley and Joshua Easley (Jill); ten great-grandchildren, Matthew Easley, Tyler Schaub, Carter Schaub, Elizabeth Schaub, Vanessa Easley, Isabella, Eli, Kaylee Clifton, Aurora Easley, and Jace Easley; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” Easley, her parents, Stella and Alfred Wagner, brother, Joe Wagner, and sister, Joyce Kidd.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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