Emma Lou Bossart Easley passed away on May 25th, the birthday of her beloved husband, Charles. She almost lived to her 96th birthday, June 8th. For the last nine years, Emma Lou lived at Laurel Crest Retirement Community in West Columbia, SC. The final member of her generation, she was our cherished family matriarch.
Born in Arona, PA on June 8th, 1930, Emma Lou was the youngest child of five and only daughter of Irene Beck Bossart and William Kuhns Bossart. She graduated from Sewickley Township High School and attended Penn State University. While working as a summer intern at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Allentown, PA, she met Charles Ward Easley, a Newberry College student from Georgetown, SC. They married in 1951 and remained married until his death in 2022. Emma Lou worked and raised children while they lived at Newberry College and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. After seminary, they moved throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia to serve Lutheran congregations. She supported her husband in his ministry, raised children and worked in public schools. Emma Lou enjoyed working with all children, especially her grandchildren and those with special needs. Throughout her life, she actively volunteered at church, in the community, with the Clemson Extension and at Laurel Crest. She loved living a healthy lifestyle, cooking, gardening, sewing and cleaning. Hard work and action was Emma Lou’s way of nurturing – this was her love language. She was reliable, true to her word and quick with a smile and laugh.
Emma Lou was predeceased by her husband, Charles, and son, David. She was also predeceased by her parents and brothers, David, Wendell, Howard and Daniel. Emma Lou is survived by four loving children, Charles Ward Easley Jr. (Wendy), Irene Easley Moye (Richie), William Teed Easley (Cheryl) and Penelope Easley Summer (Jay); eight grandchildren, Anna Maria Easley Hutchens (Chris), Benjamin Easley (Jill), Laura Moye (Steven), David Moye (Lisa), Charley Moye, Jenny Kronner (Shawn), Ashley Heine (Nicole), and Shannon Burton Bolick (Nick); and eight great-grandchildren, Mia, George, Lillian, Stanton, Meredith, Noah, Henry, and Maggie.
A memorial service will be held on June 8th, 2026 at 2:00 PM in the Assembly Room at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church at 1000 B Avenue in West Columbia, SC. Enter at the corner of 10th and Augusta Streets. Visitation will immediately follow the service.
The family extends its thanks to the staff of both Laurel Crest Retirement Community and Abbey Road Hospice for their excellent love and care.
In lieu of flowers, Emma Lou requested that donations be made to the Corpus of the Charles and Emma Lou Easley Scholarship funds at either Newberry College, 2100 College St., Newberry, SC 29108 or Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 625 7th Ave. NE, Hickory, NC 28601.
