Robert Easley

Dr. Robert Forrest Easley, M.D., passed away at age 90 in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 28, 2014. Born in Mesa, Arizona, on August 27, 1923, he was the youngest child of Bedford Forrest Easley and Margaret “Madge” Francis (Turpen) Easley. His parents, brothers Bert, J.B., and Willis, and his wife Betty Jean (Hendrix) Easley have preceded him in death. He was a loving husband, father, uncle, and “Papa”, and is survived by his children, Brian Forrest Easley, Janet Kay Easley Prouty (and husband Tod), and Kevin Robert Easley; his six granddaughters, Kendra Jean Prouty, Rebecca Easley, Bethany Jean Easley, Lauren Margaret Easley, Alixandra Forrest Easley, and Andrea Easley; and several nieces and nephews.

Bob attended Mesa High School where he was an Eagle Scout, a drummer in the marching band, and a runner on the track team. Earning both a track and math scholarship, Bob attended Arizona State Teacher’s College (ASU) for two years where he participated in track, Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity, and student government as a sophomore class officer. He was preparing to become a teacher until the summer of 1943 when attending college went on hold to serve his country in WWII.

In the 1301st Engineer Regiment in General Patton’s 3rd Army in Europe, Bob’s military occupational specialty was “Demolition Man”. He studied all type of land mines and booby-trap mechanisms and worked over mined areas with a minesweeper to locate and remove or blow them up. He cleared roadways for oncoming troops and built bridges. He landed at Normandy about 30 days after D-Day and spent most of the war in France, crossing over into Germany late in the war. He was transported to the Philippines, but the war ended en route and he was discharged after a very long wait for a ride home.

While in the Army, Bob made a major life decision to pursue a career as a doctor instead of a teacher, and he hoped to finish college and attend medical school on the GI Bill after his discharge. He accomplished this by briefly attending Phoenix College, finishing his Bachelor’s degree on a fast track at the University of Denver, and completing medical school at the University of Utah in only three years.

Also after returning home from the Army, Bob met Betty Jean Hendrix, the younger sister of his earlier college friends Bill, Judy, and Vera Jo Hendrix. Their long-distance courtship continued while Bob was in medical school and Betty Jean attended Arizona State College to become a teacher. In June of 1950, just after their respective graduations, they married and moved to Louisiana where Bob completed his medical residency and Betty Jean taught Kindergarten. In 1952, they moved to the small town of Glendale, Arizona, where Bob joined a medical practice with Dr. Phillip Rice. The medical practice grew over the years, and Bob enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a general practitioner, lovingly known as “Dr. Bob” to scores of friends and neighbors. He became an involved civic leader and was very active in the Glendale Rotary Club and at First Christian Church in Phoenix, where he served as an elder.

In the early years, Bob also cared for his patients by making evening house calls and early morning rounds at St. Joseph’s and Good Samaritan hospitals in Phoenix. Later, he helped to establish Northwest Hospital in Glendale where he served as Chief of Staff. Northwest Hospital closed when Thunderbird Hospital opened, and his patients were the first to be transported and admitted at the new facility where the rooms were all private, a feature for which he had lobbied.

Bob’s interest in education and his fond memories of Phoenix College stayed with him, and in 1961 he was appointed by the governor of Arizona to a committee to explore the expansion of Phoenix College into a junior college system. Subsequently, the Maricopa County Junior College system (later MCCC) was founded and Bob served on the board for several years, including two terms as President of the Board. His vision for the community and dedication to quality education contributed to the creation of Glendale, Mesa, and Scottsdale Community Colleges. He took a special interest in bringing a nursing program to GCC, and was honored when they named that building Easley Hall and created the Easley Scholarship for the outstanding nursing graduate each term.

On December 31, 1989, Bob retired from medicine. He continued his involvement in the community and enjoyed social activities with their many dear friends in Glendale, spending summers in Forest Lakes with Betty Jean’s siblings and their adored “mountain friends”.

Despite Bob’s busy medical career and community interests, there is no doubt that his highest devotion was to Betty Jean, the love of his life with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage before she passed away in 2011.

A memorial service and reception will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 11:00AM at Glendale Community College in the Student Union. Enter from Olive Ave via the 61st Ave entrance and follow the signs, parking at the west end of the lot. Follow the signs for a short walk to the south entrance to the Student Union building.

Please note that floral deliveries can be accepted only between 8:30 and 10:30AM on May 10 at the south entrance of the Student Union. In lieu of flowers, however, please consider an online donation to the “Phoenix Walk To End Alzheimer’s” under the team name “Easley Does It”, or a donation to the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation

Arrangements under the direction of Advantage Colonial Mortuary, Phoenix, AZ.