Robert "Sid" Easley

Robert S. (Sid) Easley, age 75, passed away at his home in Murray, Kentucky on Tuesday, January 5, 2016.

He was born October 26, 1940 in Mayfield, Kentucky and was preceded in death by his father, Johnson Easley, and his mother, Lucille Easley.

Mr. Easley is survived by his wife of over 51 years, Melissa J. Easley, his brother, Dan Easley, his two sons, Eric and Don Easley, and his five grandchildren, Lauren, Natasha, Jackson, Adelaide, and Berin.

Mr. Easley was born and raised in Graves County, Kentucky, and graduated from Sedalia High School in 1958. He attended Murray State University, where he received an undergraduate degree in Political Science in 1962, and served as President of the Student Body as well as his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. After graduating from Murray State, Mr. Easley attended law school at the University of Kentucky.

From 1965 to 1968, Mr. Easley served as a Captain in the United States Air Force before returning to Murray with his wife Melissa.

In his professional career, Mr. Easley was elected to serve as County Attorney of Calloway County for eight years, then as the first District Judge for Calloway and Marshall Counties for four years. In 1981, he became a partner at the law firm of Hughes, Gregory, Easley, and Blankenship, where he worked for over 35 years.

Throughout his life, Mr. Easley was very active in his community and throughout the state of Kentucky, receiving many honors and awards for his service. His volunteer leadership roles were numerous and included his appointment by two different governors to serve two terms on the Board of Regents at Murray State University where he served as Chairman for 11 years. He also served as Chairman of the fundraising campaign to build the National Boy Scout Museum; Chairman of the School Board of the Murray Independent Schools; Chairman of the Murray/Calloway Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of Needline, a local social welfare association; and Chairman of the Murray Calloway County Parks board where he worked with the late Judge Robert O. Miller in the development of the Murray Calloway County Parks system as it is known today.

Mr. Easley was a recipient of the National Volunteer Award, the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year Award, and one of the first recipients of the Murray State University Golden Horseshoe Award. In recognition of his extensive service to Murray State, the Alumni Association Building was named in his honor in 2005.

Mr. Easley was a faithful and active member of the First United Methodist Church in Murray. There, he served as a Church Lay Leader, the Chairman of the Administrative Board, a Member of the Memphis Conference Board of Trustees, and as a longtime Sunday School and Togetherness Class teacher.

Mr. Easley enjoyed writing, and in 2011 authored and published A Courthouse Tragedy, the true story of an early 20th century Graves County murder trial in which the Deputy Sheriff is found guilty of killing the Sheriff. The book is illustrative of Mr. Easley's ability to tell a great story and of his love for his Western Kentucky heritage.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 10 at the First United Methodist Church in Murray, KY, with Dr. Rick Dye officiating. A burial ceremony will follow at the Murray City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home on Saturday, January 9 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Pallbearers include Harold Doran, Bob Jackson, Scott Turner, Marty Futrell, Chad Bazzell, and Vernon Moore.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Sid and Melissa Easley Leadership Scholarship Endowment at the Murray State University Foundation, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray, KY 42071; the First United Methodist Church, 503 Maple Street, Murray, KY 42071; and Murray Calloway County Hospice at the Murray Calloway Hospital, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.

Online condolences may be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com.