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Michael Frederick Easley
330
West Highway 246
Buellton, CA 93427
(805)693-1601 |
| | Michael Frederick Easley
(aka, Fred), died on April 1, 2007 in Buellton, CA of complications from prostate
cancer, a disease he struggled gallantly against for five years.
Fred was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on February 14, 1936. He was christened Michael
Frederick Easley; however, during WWII, just before his father, Fred O. Easley,
Jr., was to be transferred to Europe to fly combat missions, his grandparents
insisted Michael's name be changed to Fred O. Easley, III, to ensure the lineage
would be maintained. This explains why his many caring classmates from the class
of 1958 knew him as Fred. As it turned out, he wasn't very keen on the name, especially
when as a Plebe, all too many upperclassmen found out his middle name was Oscar.
So, when he graduated and was on his own, he submitted the paperwork to have his
name changed back to Michael Frederick Easley, only to find out the initial name
change was never officially recorded! Therefore, to his classmates he was known
as Fred, and to others he was Mike. Fred's cadet days
were marked by subtle - occasionally bold - strokes in gold that shone through
a pallet of life on the Plain, sometimes overwhelmed by shades of grey and black.
Maybe that luster explained the refreshment his presence served up to others of
us seized with bare survival or, at least, less certain than Fred could be about
how laughter sustains in times of peril. One of his roommates added the QED to
Fred's character portrayal when he said, "Fred made me laugh and smile going
through West Point when I really didn't want to."
He served his
country with distinction with overseas assignments in Germany, Turkey, South Vietnam,
Argentina, and South Korea. Decorations, which Mike received for his service in
Vietnam, included the Bronze Star for Valor, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Commendation
Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. However, the military-related activity that
probably gave him the greatest pleasure was the creation of the Veterans Memorial
Walk in Santa Barbara, California. His vision, design, and tireless pursuit of
funding and government support resulted in a truly remarkable memorial in a most
spectacular setting. Not many know that at the height
of the Cold War, right after the Berlin Wall was erected, he commanded the US
Army tank platoon at Checkpoint Charlie during the tense Soviet-US standoff. His
platoon stood face to face, or gun barrel to gun barrel, with ten of the Soviet
Union's mighty T-55 tanks, the "Russian Bear" category. So, to even
the playing field, Mike appropriately named his tanks "bears", Teddy
Bear, Polar Bear, Cuddly Bear, and Pooh Bear, and the Soviet tanks eventually
withdrew.
Being raised in a military family meant, of course, living
in many, many different locations including overseas, circumstances which helped
to shape his love for the humanities, the written and spoken word and languages.
His genuine interest in reading was evident even as a teenager. Later he became
known as a great storyteller and always had something to say that would make you
smile or laugh. Barry Zwick, said it best, "He brightened the day of whomever
was lucky enough to spend time with him." F.O.
Easley was one of those colorful caricatures to make indelible visits to the human
experience. Inactive, dull, angry, sad minds found little comfort in his company.
Neither did his in theirs. This robust lad we knew from an early stage dedicated
himself to processing and practicing high principles in the service of humanity
and values that resonated to his chord for trust.
Fred had an unabashed
love of the written and spoken word. Gabrielle Brown-Nadal, Fred, and Barry Zwick
had lunch in Santa Barbara often. Barry recalls during a conversation someone
might mention, say, Omar Khayyám. Fred would unhesitatingly break into
verse offering up several quatrains and polish it all off with his gigantic, signature
smile. Many in the restaurant would stop what they were doing and listen appreciatively,
but with some element of surprise.
Reciting poetry and giving lengthy
quotations was not the limit of Fred's repertoire; he might break into song when
the occasion beckoned. He was especially prone to warble any USMA tune, such as
Benny Havens, Oh! after quaffing a beer or two … or, was it a glass of wine?
It didn't take much. Once again, a huge smile would punctuate the proceedings.
He loved performing, as evidenced by his habitual Thursday night attendance at
Fess Parker's Inn in Los Olivos, CA where he would sing several songs for the
evening crowd. Not only did Fess and his wife love him, the entire gathering showed
great fondness for him, and he returned that affection happily and with grace.
Fred's antics, humor, song, care, courage, but mostly, a keen sense of what seems
to matter; all these put to lifting our spirits and possibilities touching the
memory gently, fondly … with gratitude. His children
will always know how much he valued their uniqueness and how deeply he loved them.
He was incredibly proud of their accomplishments and very hopeful for their futures.
His son, Scott wrote of Mike's spirit, "He held the same fascination for
people, the same innocent spirit of adventure that we all did in our youth. Even
though he had seen both the blackness of war and trials of his own family hardship,
he never lost his sense of humor or sense of wonder at the world." Mike
never questioned his fate when diagnosed with cancer, but fought the disease with
all he had. In the midst of his own struggles, he shared enthusiasm and knowledge
of his victories with all the fellow patients he met. He helped others whenever
possible and lived by the words, "People may not remember exactly what you
did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel." In
closing, this remarkable man should be remembered by the words he said whenever
he ended a conversation, "Keep Smiling!"
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