Mary Jo Easley

Mary Jo Easley departed this life on October 24, 2022, at the age of ninety-six years.  She was born November 4, 1925, in Hornersville, Missouri, to Charles Edward and Viola Amanda Zumwalt Montgomery, cotton farmers in the Missouri bootheel.

She married Arthur Hunter Easley on February 2, 1946.  She often spoke of their first encounter over rows of cotton when she looked into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen as he flashed his movie star smile and won her heart.  After marriage they settled in Hocomo, Missouri, to raise their family.  She had a romantic flare about her and told stories of her childhood in a fashion befitting the big screen.  She spoke of how movies gave her a view into a world outside of her simple farm girl life.  She had the hands of an artist and created beautiful quilts and clothes for her family.  She had an amazing eye for color and never really let anyone acknowledge her talent, seeing it as something of necessity.  She never understood the impact her legacy had on this world and would tell you that she was not made for this time, and she was right.  She was made for a time when Mommas sewed out of necessity, gardened to keep their families fed, and she devoted her whole life to that alone.  She was sassy, fancy, direct, thrifty, inventive, artistic, and loving in her own way.  She will be greatly missed, and though hard for her to believe, forever loved just as she was. 

She is survived by her children, Barbara Jane McTague of Springfield, Missouri, David Warren Easley and wife, Linda, of Gower, Missouri, and Debra Ann Baughman of West Plains, Missouri; twelve grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, all eight of her brothers and sisters, her husband, son-in-law, Jerry McTague, son-in-law, David Baughman, and great-great-grandchild, Noah Kay Jacobs. 

A private graveside service will be held for the family.  Memorial contributions may be made to Brandsville Church of God and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.