He was born March 11, 1935 in Polk County, the son of the late William Bryant Earley and Ethel Benefield Earley.
Mr. Earley was a veteran of the United States Army. He owned and operated a construction company for more than 30 years developing and building homes for Polk County families. He was on the committee that established the Polk County Water Authority and served on the first Polk County Planning and Zoning Commission.
Upon retirement from the construction industry, Mr. Early was able to spend more time with his family and enjoy becoming a full-time cattle farmer.
He was a long-time Blue Lodge Mason and Shriner.
Mr Early was preceded in death by a grandson; his parents; brother, Jerry Earley and sisters, Ann Spencer and Faye Morgan.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Dora Mae Rampley Earley; daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Johnny Hardin; sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Judi Earley and Randy and Janet Earley; sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Russell Kirkpatrick and brothers and sister-in-law, Tony and Teri Morgan and Tommy Earley. A number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive.
The funeral arrangements were conducted on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the Gammage Funeral Home with Dr. Steve Fetkenhour officiating and Tony Morgan delivering the eulogy including memories by Billy Croker. Interment followed in the Polk Memory Gardens.
The following gentlemen were asked to serve as pallbearers: Dustin Clay, Mitchell Earley, Bryant Earley, Seth Earley, Braydon Earley, Kurtis Klemke and Corey Bradshaw. Honorary pallbearers were Billy Croker, Tommy McElwee, Pat Casey, Dennis Floyd, Wendell Floyd, Charlie Van Swafford and in loving memory Johnny Ray’s grandson, Bronson Ray Clay.
The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.