Jimmie Easter

CSM(Ret) Jimmie Lee Easter, 86, of Mount Airy, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, February 27, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.  Mr. Easter was born to Lewis Arnold Easter and Minnie Alma Horton Easter on January 29, 1935.  The son of a produce market owner and a textile worker, Jimmie grew up with his four sisters and three brothers in Surry County.  Jimmie joined the Army in 1953 and married the love of his life, Faye Bernelle Childress, two years later, on December 18, 1955.  Jimmie served his country faithfully in the Army as a Special Forces Green Beret for 23 years in campaigns including Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.  During Jimmie’s meritorious service he earned a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and six Purple Hearts, as well as many other awards and commendations.  He earned three Master Parachutist badges, one each in the US, Thailand, and Vietnam.  After retiring from the military, he joined his father and brother in the family produce business for many years.  Jimmie spent his “retired” years working in Virginia with close friends, working apple and peach orchards, driving a logging truck, and hauling Christmas trees.  He never really knew what it meant to retire and prided himself on staying busy.  Even on days when there was no work to do, Jimmie would ride “up in the mountains” just to check on everyone he knows.  He is a man’s man and a true friend.  He made sure to teach his kids about hard work, selflessness, honoring your word, and owning your mistakes.  It’s been said many times, “They don’t make ‘em like him anymore,” and that statement truly embodies who Jimmie is.  Jimmie has six daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Wayne Pennington, Jeanette Knott, Lisa and Cliff Pilarski, Angela and Edward Horton, Crystal and JP Moore, Tabitha and Bobby Collins; and two sons and daughters-in-law, James and Luisa Easter and Tim and Maria Easter. Jimmie and Faye have been blessed with thirty grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren whom he adores.  His face lights up every time his front door opens and one of his family members walks in, and he keeps his candy tin stocked for all his grandchildren.  Jimmie is a lover of country music and old westerns and you would be hard pressed not to have one or the other playing when you came into his home.  He loves spending his free time keeping up on national news and just taking leisurely drives in his beloved mountains where he is respectfully known as “Colonel.” He is a father to anyone who crosses his path and a helping hand when anyone needs it.  He is perfectly content in silent reverie or in hours-long conversations.  Recently he enjoyed new technology and daily video chats with his faraway family.  He loves a home-cooked meal, especially homemade biscuits, and all of his family gathered around his table.  Jimmie leaves behind a wonderful legacy of love and family and he is so dearly missed.  Jimmie is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, Roscoe and Bill Easter, sisters, Judy Stevens, Alene Easter, and Ronda Cox, and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to his loving wife and parents and parents-in-law, Alice and Benjamin Childress, Jimmie is preceded in death by his brother, Arnold Jr., and sister, Mary Virginia Collins; and Son-in-Law Dusty Knott.  A funeral service will be held Friday, March 5, at 2:00pm at Mount Airy Wesleyan Church Gym with Rev. Richard Loman and Pastor Eric Smith officiating.  Burial will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens.  The family will receive friends Thursday night from 6:00 until 8:00pm at Mount Airy Wesleyan Church Gym.  Flowers will be accepted, or donations can be made in Jimmie’s honor to the Green Beret Foundation.  Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.  Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com. To send flowers to Jimmie's family, please visit our floral store.