Charles Lee Ealy

Charles Lee Ealy, age 77, of Bolivar, died peacefully at Mercy Hospital, in Springfield, on July 6, 2016. Charles was born in Adonis, Missouri, to Charley and Opal (Sullivan) Ealy. He attended schools in Adonis and Bolivar, Missouri. Charley married Shirley Ann Newland August 16, 1958. To this union, was born a son, and two daughters. Charley was a member of Southside Missionary Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School, and was a song leader. He was a Local businessman, working jobs including a salesman at Lionel Lear Ford. He was the owner of Ealy – Campbell Mobile Homes, Charlie’s TV, and Bolivar Music. Charley was also the sales manager for Childress Music. Charles was in City Government for over twenty years, and was Mayor of Bolivar from 1997 to 2011. Charles performed with his country music band for many years. He was co-founder, with Mary Childress, of the Bolivar Country Days. They organized and performed benefit shows and auction for the Polk County Community Center. He was also known as ‘Santa’, dressing up for many years for the Christmas Parade. He was a Silver Hair Legislators Representative, and was on the Betterment Association Board, where he received the 2001 Bolivar Civic Services Award. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charley and Opal (Sullivan) Ealy; a sister, Dorothy Ealy Kerr; and infant great-grandson, Bentley Lewis. Charles is survived by his loving wife Shirley, of the home; one son, Danny Ealy, and his wife Tami, of Camdenton, Missouri; two daughters, Barb Haynes, and her husband Mike, of Morrisville, Missouri, and Judy Doss and husband Ron, of Pierce City, Missouri; one sister, Mary Louise McKee, of Jacksonville, Illinois; twelve grandchildren, Jeremy Ealy, Kim Schmidt, Mike Lewis, Josh Lewis, Ashley Riddle, Elijah Gilden, Ryan Gilden, Samantha Brown, Amanda Ealy, Ty Haynes, Shannon Hancock, and Amity Dobbs; and 14 great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, on Sunday, July 10, 2016, at the Butler Funeral Home Chapel, in Bolivar. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am, Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Butler Funeral Home, in Bolivar, with burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery, in Bolivar.

Charles Lee Ealy

May 31, 1939 - July 6, 2016