Bill E. Easton, 92, of Patoka passed away, surrounded by the love of his family, Monday, August 22, 2022, at Centralia Manor. He was born on February 11, 1930, the son of Harry Ryman and Flora Elizabeth (Houston) Easton in Patoka. He married Barbara Saunders on September 15, 1950, in Sandoval, and she preceded him in death on January 11, 2001.
Survivors include his beloved family, daughters JoLynne (Frank) Payne of Patoka, Becky (Norman) Howe of McLeansboro, and Amy (Jeff) Potthoff of Highland; grandchildren Dr. Bill (J’Amy) Payne, Barry (Jennifer) Payne, Jenny Howe, Julie (Jeremy) Sandusky, Brandon (Amy) Potthoff, Jami (Ben) Eberwein, Austin Potthoff, Kyle Hardin (Alyson), Kelly (Dustin) Carbaugh, Brandi (Quinn) Wadkins, and Taylor Isaak; 19 great-grandchildren; brothers Kenneth Easton, and Art Easton; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Along with his wife of 50 years, Mr. Easton was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Kara Easton; and 1 great-grandchild.
Mr. Easton was a driver of Frank Heinzmann’s milk truck for the thirty-year duration of the business. He also worked road construction, driving the asphalt truck. As a driver, Bill was a member of the Teamsters. He was most proud to give his love, blood, sweat, and tears to the Easton Brothers family farm, where he could be found from sunup to sundown, working the fields on his John Deere tractor. Bill had a passion for raising cattle and gained the nickname the “cattle whisperer” from the way he could herd the cattle easily. Not letting himself off the hook through the winter months, Bill would get his tractor and blade fired up and plow the snow, enjoying every minute. He liked to work hard and play hard too, as he loved to travel with Joe Blunt’s softball team, B & J Logging helping them with many victories. Always the first to the dinner table, Bill loved to share a meal with family and friends and was known to grill excellent barbeque chicken. He loved all of his grandbabies and made sure to spoil them with attention. Bill was a man of integrity and generosity, who was well respected and deeply loved.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, August 28, 2022, at the Day Macz Funeral Home in Patoka with Pastor David Rogers officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in rural Sandoval. Friends and relatives are welcome to a visitation time from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Sunday at the funeral home in Patoka. Memorials may be made in Bill’s honor to Patoka FFA. Online condolences and memories of Bill may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
