November 22, 2025, 74, LaGrange —
November 2, 1951 – November 22, 2025
Troy Eason developed a love for some of his favorite things early in life. When he was in first grade at La Grange School, he had some difficulty learning to read, so much that they considered making him repeat his grade. His teacher knew he loved sports, so she found him books about baseball and other outdoor adventures. Not only did he learn to read about these topics of interest, he eventually excelled so much that he read almost every book in the library.
When Troy was a young boy, a lady who helped his mom with house cleaning noticed that he read the newspaper every single day and she was amazed at his intelligence. She started taking the papers home so that her son would develop a love for knowledge and reading, too. Many in the La Grange community may remember seeing him, as an adult, reading several newspapers each morning at BJ’s Grill or Sam’s “Hasty Mart” store. During his career at South Lenoir, when he wasn’t in the gym or athletic facilities, he was in the library. He was the “Google” of baseball stats, and if you were one of his players that missed a sign to hit and run, dropped a routine fly ball, or otherwise messed up, sorry, but he didn’t forget that.
The love of reading made him an encyclopedia of random knowledge and influenced his decision to work in education. His vast wisdom made the rest of the family recruit him for their “Bar Trivia Team.” Troy was adamantly against drinking alcohol, but he reluctantly agreed to join them and, of course, was the Trivia Team MVP.
In addition to reading and baseball, Troy was known for his love for hunting and golf. Although he hated traveling, he was always ready for a road trip to Northampton County to hunt with the P & S Hunt Club, with “some of the finest people” he ever met. Troy’s time with hunting friends, and especially with Amy’s grandad, uncle, and cousins, were cherished times.
As a teen, Troy discovered golf and joined Falling Creek Country Club in 1968, the year after it opened. He saved up his “Summer Tobacco Money” to pay the initial fee and his dad agreed to help with monthly dues while he was in school. As a lefty, he had to play right-handed until he was able to find left-handed clubs, but true to his usual competitiveness, he was pretty good at both. His golf buddies were special to Troy, but he always expected to beat them. He was “grumpy” when he got home if he lost. Several of his former student-athletes have played with him over the years, and it was a badge of honor if they even came close to his score… only a few ever did.
Baseball inspired Troy to read, and it also provided other opportunities for him. Known as an outstanding all-around athlete while attending North Lenoir High School, Eason was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2010. During an American Legion baseball game his senior year, Troy hit a massive home run down the right field line at Guy Smith Stadium in Greenville. The East Carolina coach at the time, Earl Smith, was at that game and recruited him to play for the Pirates. One of the highlights of his time playing for East Carolina was hitting a game-winning two-run homer against NC State. Under a picture of this feat in the ECU yearbook, his name was listed as “Tony Easton.”
After completing his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Physical Education, Troy began his teaching and coaching career at Edenton, and then Albemarle Academy in Elizabeth City. When he returned home to La Grange to be closer to family, he worked with his uncle, Dempsey Hill, and Gene Sutton at Kinston Clinic Pharmacy and enjoyed a brief stint as an assistant football coach at North Lenoir. Soon after, he was offered a job teaching and coaching at South Lenoir. Troy was fortunate to find a second home on the south side of the river with some of the best students, most supportive administrators, and legendary co-workers.
The Eason kids, Ty and Callie, grew up with many “brothers and sisters” from their parents’ connection to the Blue Devils. Although some of the athletes Coach Eason worked with over the years might not have realized it at the time, he loved them and would talk about certain game situations, at-bats, or pitches from years ago like they just happened. Players who wore #7 were extra special to Troy and he had the highest expectations of them (his favorite player, Mickey Mantle, wore that number for the Yankees). Ty was honored to wear #7 and have the opportunity to be coached by his dad. Another special number, 27, was worn by Coach Eason as a tribute to the day of his wedding anniversary and Amy’s Birthday. When Lee Taylor was promoted to the Varsity Team, there were no jerseys left to give him. Since he was a good player AND a strong, left-handed hitter, Lee became an official part of the Eason family and wore #27.
Last but not least, Troy Eason loved his family. His gruff exterior turned to mush when both of his children were born and he considered them the biggest blessings of his life. Ty was a little buddy to play ball with and Callie got him to go to dance recitals and was his clone. He decided to stop coaching football when Callie was born so he would have more time with his family. Amy tried to be understanding of all the other things he enjoyed, but sometimes she had to insist that he go places he didn’t want to, like playing in a golf tournament he didn’t think they would win or attending an occasional social event. Troy and Amy both became better versions of themselves by being together.
In February 2025, Troy developed symptoms resembling a stroke. After several weeks of testing and medical visits with no answers, he was seen at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Clinic at Duke University Medical Center, where it was determined he had Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, with other medical complications. The family worked with some of the best medical staff in the country to fight this cancer, but it is one of the most aggressive types to treat. Due to the prognosis, the family wished to keep his diagnosis private and focus on having positive energy and managing treatments. They appreciate the prayers, concern, and respect for their wishes from everyone during this difficult time. Special thanks to neighbors, Barbara Elmore and Robert and Dee Ann Maready for all of your kindness and help when we needed you. More medical staff than we can count from ECU Health, Dr. Iqbal, UNC Lenoir, The Duke University Brain Tumor Center, Dr. Komisarow, Dr. Scott Floyd, Dr. Shoaf and staff, Duke Raleigh, Dr. Scott Smith and staff, Centerwell, Zack Bumgarner, UNC Wayne Rehab Center, and Gentiva Hospice have helped us with kind hearts and we are truly grateful.
The family will receive friends for a time of fellowship and sharing memories on Sunday, November 30, 2025 from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m. at Rouse Farm, 4579 Eason Road, La Grange, NC 28551.
Troy is survived by his wife, Amy; children, Ty and Callie; Daughter-in-Law, Bridget Eason; Granddaughter, Madilyn Eason; Aunt; Shelba Hill, Mother-in-Law; Jane Garner, Sister and Brother-In-Laws; Sheri and Steve Aycock, Steve and Lisa Garner, Darrell Thigpen; Cousins and their spouses; Megan and Steve Saint Amand, Miranda and Kevin Wiggins, Matthew Hill, Jimmy Grady; Honorary Son, Josh Harris; “Work Wife,” Lisa Smith; “Favorite Person,” Logan Deaver; and many other family and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Troy and Marjorie Grady Eason; sister, Betty Eason Thigpen; and niece, Sonia Gray.
II Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
In honor of Troy’s dedication to area students and education, the family requests in lieu of flowers, you consider making a donation to the Lenoir Community College Foundation or the Glioblastoma Foundation.
