Leonard Eugene “Abner” Easley

Leonard Eugene “Abner” Easley, 85, passed away on September 30, 2021 at his home in Lawson, Mo., after a three year battle with cancer. He was born December 5, 1935 to Leonard Morton and Livie Alpha (Waters) Easley in Excelsior Springs, Mo. He was the youngest of seven children. He was a 1954 graduate of Excelsior Springs High School where he was a member of the football and field and track teams. He held the school record for the discus throw for 30 years. His record was finally broken by an athlete who came to him for pointers. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1958 until 1960 in the 83rd Artillery Division while stationed in Baumholder, Germany.

When he returned home, he met the love of his life and married Dolores Lee Lamb on November 23, 1962. They made their home in Lawson, Mo., where they raised their three children and his two nieces and attended church at Old Union Christian Union. Abner worked hard all his life. He farmed and raised cattle and hogs. He was employed at The American Can Company in North Kansas City for 11 years and retired in 1997 from Lafarge Cement Company in Sugar Creek, Mo., after 30 years of service. His biggest passion was his foxhounds. He enjoyed raising dogs and attending hunts and dog shows with his many foxhunter friends. He was an outdoorsman and also enjoyed deer hunting, trapping, fishing, mowing, gardening and cutting wood. He loved vacationing to the Snowy Range mountains in Wyoming where he took his family almost every summer. After retirement he enjoyed trips to the casinos and playing slot machines where he was lucky more often than not.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Dolores Easley, of the home; his three children, Randall (Karla) Easley of Kearney, Mo., Jana (Bill) Shanks of Lawson Mo., and Kelly (Kelli) Easley of Lawson, Mo.; grandchildren, Zachary Easley, Samantha Easley, Cody Shanks and Dalton Shanks; great grandchildren, DJ, Daisy, Penny and Major, and two nieces who he raised as his own, Shirley St. John of Lawson, Mo., and AnnaDell (Mike) Scott of Cowgill, Mo., along with many other dear nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings, Grover, Wilma, Forrest, Dean, Clinton and Eunice (Merriman).

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 5, 2021 at Boss & Spidle Funeral Home, 214 N. Pennsylvania, Lawson, MO 64062, with visitation prior from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Lawson Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a gathering with food immediately following at the Lakeview Event Center, 19959 N. Raum St., Lawson, MO 64062.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Braymer Foxhunters Association, Bob Carlson, 24356 County Rd. 433, Dawn, MO 64638.