Michael Lance Easley

Michael Lance Easley, one of the brightest lights of our lives, has ceased to shine. Jim and Linda Easley of Odessa, TX had a beautiful baby boy on September 17, 1969. Robert Duvall, as cowboy Prentice Ritter, said in the movie Broken Trail, “Birth ‘til death. We travel between the eternities.” At age 45, on June 19, 2015, Lance Easley traveled to his heavenly eternal life.

Lance’s greatest joy in life was his son, Ryan. The pride he felt in watching Ryan grow to be a wonderful young man shown in his eyes anytime he spoke of Ryan. Together they shared a love of sports, hunting, fishing and fast cars, not to mention the same striking blue eyes and mischievous smile and laugh.

Lance was a bright, fun-loving, sweet, gentle soul with a personality that was bigger than life. He finally met and planned to marry his soulmate and best friend, Marla Miles.

At age 9, Lance gave his life to Jesus Christ at Crescent Park Baptist Church in Odessa.

Lance graduated from Permian High School in 1988. He began his career in 1989 at an entry level position with Dixie Electric in Odessa, TX. Lance proved to be a very capable employee and began to move up to positions with greater responsibility and authority. In January 2014 he was named manager of the Odessa branch of Dixie Electric. Lance was very proud to be a member of the Dixie Electric family. Lance loved working with and getting to know the people of Dixie and truly enjoyed working with, and for, the many people that work for the various oil companies across the Permian Basin.

Lance loved sports. In the 8 year old and under class he won the Odessa All-Around City Championship in gymnastics. In the 8 year old and under class he placed 2nd in the state of Texas Judo Championship held on the campus of TCU. As a youngster Lance participated in football, baseball, basketball and track. As he got older he coached boys basketball and Boys Club football. Lance was an avid fan of Permian, Texas A&M, Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. Lance enjoyed hunting and fishing on the family ranch in Comanche, fishing and boating on Lake Brownwood where he had a vacation home, and various charity fishing and skeet shooting tournaments with his friends in the oil patch.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Ryan Easley and fiancé Sarah Vest of Odessa; his fiancé Marla Miles and her daughters, Presley and Lexi of Odessa; his parents, Jim and Linda Easley of Odessa; older brother Shane Easley and wife Jody of Brownwood; younger sister Senee Holditch and husband Brian of Richardson; nieces Julia and Jenna Easley; nephew C.J. Holditch; step-nephews Grayson and Cooper Swanzy; grandmother Molene Hicks Easley of Odessa; uncles Ed Easley and wife Elaine of Odessa, Wayne Smith and wife Jan of McCamey, Ronnie Smith and wife Diane of Odessa and Les Southern of Houston; and numerous cousins, friends and other family members.

Lance is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Arlis Burnett Easley; maternal grandmother Ava Smith; and aunt Betty Smith Southern.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 26, 2015 at Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Odessa with Rev. Jeff Cleere officiating. Music by Aron Byford of Odessa. Pallbearers are Dixie Electric co-workers Wilson Henegar, Tony Vasquez, Darrell Guinn, Patrick Fry, Ben Patterson and Joe Camacho. Arrangements are by Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home of Crane.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Zion Hill Cemetery in Comanche County with Rev. Jeff Cleere officiating. Arrangements are by Comanche Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the Family requests memorial gifts be made to the Zion Hill Cemetery Association, c/o John Beaty, 100 CR 489, DeLeon, TX 76444 or Gartman View Freewill Baptist Church (Easley’s Chapel) 11601 Hwy 16 N. Comanche, TX 76442.

The family of Lance Easley would like to thank and express our sincere gratitude to each and everyone for all your prayers, donations, floral and food offerings, and your presence with us during this most difficult time.