Belva Blythe Easley

East Lansing, MI

Belva Blythe Easley, retired school teacher, died November 23, 2010, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI, of cardiac arrest.

Belva was born February 13, 1920, in Golden, Missouri, to Claude & Nellie Blythe. She graduated from Cassville, Missouri High School at the age of 15 and attended S.M.S. in Springfield, Missouri. After 2 years of college she returned to Golden to begin her teaching career in l936. In 1940 she moved to California to marry Dennis Clements. In 1946 she and Dennis moved to Southwest City, Missouri, to open the E-Z-Way Market. After the break-up of their marriage she became the sole proprietor of the grocery store. In 1952 she sold the business and moved to Neosho. She was employed at Tom’s I.G.A. and during a conversation with a customer discovered she had the credentials to teach in the rural, 2 room county school district. She was hired to teach at Oak Grove in 1953 and began her pursuit of completing her Bachelor of Science Degree. After receiving that degree from S.M.S. in 1957 she was hired by Neosho Public Schools. She continued her pursuit of higher education to complete her Masters of Science Degree from Pittsburgh State University, Pittsburgh, Kansas in 1964.

On June 4, 1966, she married Rayburn Easley and moved to Rogers, Arkansas and taught fourth grade at Westside School. She retired from teaching in 1985 after completing 35 years of helping to shape many young lives.She moved to East Lansing, Michigan in 2001, where she made her home until her death.

She was a member of Society of Mayflower Descendants, Daughters of American Revolution, Kappa Delta Pi, Alpha Delta Kappa, and New Hope Church.

Belva is preceded in death by her parents, husband Rayburn Easley, brothers Bela and Burl. She is survived by daughter Claudia Carson, brother Buford(Shirley) Blythe, Granddaughters Carrie (Ryan) O’Connell, Christa Carson, Great Grandson Jack O’Connell, Stepsons Douglas & Michael Easley, Stepdaughters Brenda (Ron) Vinson & Karen Cristee, 11 Step Grandchilden, 26 Step Great Grandchildren, 1 Step Great, Great Grandchild, 4 Nieces, 3 Nephews, and a host of cousins, former pupils, and friends.

Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, November 29, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, 626 W. Olive, Rogers, AR. Burial will be at 2:00 P.M. on Monday at Horner Cemetery in Cassville, Missouri. Visitation will be held at Rollins Funeral Home on Sunday, November 28, 2010 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

A memorial will be held at New Hope Church, Haslett, Michigan at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, December 3, 2010. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 626 W. Olive, Rogers, Arkansas 72756 or New Hope Church, 1340 Haslett Rd., Haslett, Michigan 48840.

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.