DWAIN CARLTON EALY SR.
Dwain Carlton Ealy Sr. was born March 23, 1936, and passed away on Nov. 3, 2024, at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, Datis and Martha Ealy, and his brother, Ronald Ealy. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sally DeWitt Ealy; son, D. Carlton Ealy Jr.; and daughter, Ellen Ealy Petree and husband Dr. Lewis Petree of Winder, Georgia. Other survivors include his grandson Holden Ealy Petree and wife, Meagan Morales Petree, of Dawsonville, Georgia; granddaughter Dr. Margaret Elizabeth Petree and husband, Chandler Thomas Dickerson, of Winder, Georgia, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dwain grew up in Clinton, Tennessee, and proudly graduated from Clinton High School in 1954. His life was deeply influenced by graduating from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1961, where he was the first in his family to graduate from college. At Tennessee Wesleyan, he was mentored by M.C. “Tip” Smith and Dr. Jack Bowling. Dwain worked his way through college. He played multiple sports. In 1998, he and Sally established the Ealy Scholarship at Tennessee Wesleyan to support other students, inspired by the assistance they had received. They wanted to show that ordinary people (an insurance salesman and a schoolteacher) did not have toberichtogiveahandup to others, just as they had been given. TWC changed their lives. Dwain was president of the Tennessee Wesleyan Alumni Association in 1969, and a proud member of the Tennessee Wesleyan Advisory Board. In 2011, he and Sally received the Friend of Wesleyan Award, which recognizes those who gave their time, talent and resources to Tennessee Wesleyan.
Dwain was a veteran of the Air Force and the Tennessee Air National Guard. He was deployed to Germany in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was being built, and his deployment happened shortly after he and Sally married. She later joined him in Germany and in their 20s as newlyweds, they stood on top of the Eiffel Tower with grateful hearts for their blessings.
Following his military service, he and Sally came home to Athens to build a life and family together, where he began a successful career in insurance sales that lasted more than 55 years with Connecticut Mutual and Mass Mutual insurance companies.
Additionally, in 1976 he began a 40-year career with AFLAC. He enjoyed sales, and especially serving his clients and building relationships with them, and so they often became friends. Dwain never met a stranger and always had time to talk. Dwain also had strong convictions on various topics, which he shared, too. From 1972-1977 Dwain served on the McMinn County Council, while having a young family. He also served on the Woods Memorial Hospital Board of Directors from 1979-1988. His advice to Ellen was to go into health care, which she did and then met her future husband.
He cherished his 64-year membership in Keith Memorial United Methodist Church where he found a church family, sang tenor in the Chancel Choir for more than 50 years, and served on several church committees.
Dwain was a dedicated member of the Kiwanis Club of Athens for 59 years, with 56 years of perfect attendance. He served as president and lieutenant governor and attended four Kiwanis International meetings. He joyfully led the singing during meetings and was a top ticket seller for the annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast and Kiwanis barbeque fundraisers, where he worked on many committees. He believed in this unique service club that continually works to improve the lives of children, youth and the community. He loved being an active part of Kiwanis. In 2002, he was honored with the Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award.
Dwain deeply loved his Lord, his family, his church and being outdoors. When not working or at choir practice or volunteering, you could find him farming, mowing, bush-hogging, chopping wood, gardening and giving away tomatoes and other vegetables to friends. Into his 80s you would find him bicycling for miles (on his tricycle) along the country roads of Pond Hill and the Tranquility community in Athens.
He fiercely loved his children and grandchildren and always had a proud story to share about them. He also cherished his relationship with his son-in-law, Lewis.
Dwain was an avid NASCAR fan, attending many races over the years, and always kept up with all sports, which he shared with son Carlton. He and Carlton spent countless hours watching ballgames, discussing politics, analyzing the stock market, and discussing history and political science, along with many other things. Dwain was an avid reader with multiple interests.
The family would like to especially thank Golden Touch caregivers Holly Enten, Donna Canada and Krystal Rogers for their personalized care, and the many nurses and caregivers of NHC Athens for their combined loving care of Dwain and our family.
A celebration of Dwain’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. at the church prior to the service.
For those who wish, a memorial contribution may be made to Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1, Athens, TN 37371, or to the Ealy Scholarship, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Advancement Office, 204 College St., Athens, TN 37303, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Smith Funeral & Cremation Services of Athens is honored to serve the family of Dwain C. Ealy.
