John Dean Easley

John Dean Easley, of Groesbeck, passed away at home on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at age 74. A Memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 11, 2013, under the Pavilion at Faulkenberry Cemetery, with Brother Richard Williams of the Groesbeck Church of Christ officiating. John Dean was born August 30, 1938 to John Monroe David Easley and Geraldine (Climer) Easley at the Old Dr. Cox Hospital in Groesbeck. He graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1956, having been a Groesbeck Goat football player and track star. He attended Navarro Junior College two years and served in the National Guard for seven years. He remained a sports fan all his life, and as an adult played in the “serious” volleyball games at Ben Hur. John Dean worked for the City of Groesbeck after his school years, then as one of the two deputies under Sheriff Conner Spivey. He worked in plumbing for Marion Dick, Cowboy Little, and Carl Shugart, and also was elected as Constable for a term. His primary career however, was with Lone Star Gas Company, from which he retired in 1998 after thirty years. But even after retiring, he went back to work for the City of Groesbeck Recycling Center for several years, and then went to work as a security guard for the Luminant Power Plant near Franklin. And when not working on his jobs, he picked up cans to sell and picked up pecans, which he liked to shell and give to friends. He liked to work crossword puzzles and read, and had some great friends with whom he traded paperbacks, especially Dwaine Popejoy and Ronnie Fritz. He also loved going to the Casinos with his friends. John Dean never met a stranger, and was known as “The Jokester,” telling jokes wherever he was. He could sit for an hour telling jokes without repeating any of them and always had to give one last joke before parting. He had been a part of the Red Stocking Follies in Groesbeck, and was never embarrassed to wear the funniest costumes. He enjoyed being part of a “Dairy Queen” gang and also meeting with his friends to eat at the Hospital Cafeteria, making the time for those around him a lot of fun. He was a member of the Church of Christ at Groesbeck, as was his mother, since 1955. John Dean enjoyed and loved his kids and grandchildren, and will be missed by the family and the community. Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Tommy L. Easley and a sister, Pauline Easley. He is survived by his four children: son, James (Art) Easley of Groesbeck; son, William (Bubba) Easley of Thornton; daughter, J’Anne Diem and her husband John of Swartz Creek, Michigan; and daughter, Sherri Leathers and her husband, Tommy of Whitney. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.