Michael E. Easom

Michael "Mike" Ellison Easom was born on August 22, 1946, in Bainbridge, Georgia, to Raymond and Madeline Easom. Sadly, he passed away at age 78 on November 26, 2024, at Treasure Coast Hospice, finding peace at last.

He is survived by his wife Linda; Christopher and Crissy Easom of Hobe Sound and their children Riley, Averi, and Brody; and Adam and Ashley Reynolds of Port St. Lucie and their children Grayson and Emma.

He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, attending local schools there and graduating from Leon High School in 1964 after enjoying a very successful baseball career. Mike then went on to Florida State University where he majored in Health Education while playing four years of Seminole baseball with some of the best teammates he had ever met.

He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1969 and played 2 years and then played 2 years in the Montreal Expos organization. His minor league baseball was played in Reno, Nevada, and Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Mike met Linda Clendenin during his junior year at FSU while she was a freshman. Three years later, they married on September 7, 1969, in Tampa, Florida, and then settled down in Tallahassee. Linda finished her senior year, and Mike worked as a health inspector for Leon County while earning his Master's degree in Health Science. Their summers in pro ball were experiences to remember, seeing new places and making lifelong friends.

After baseball ended for him, he continued his work with the health department in Tallahassee while Linda taught English at Godby High School. His coaching career began when his brother convinced him to coach a 13-year-old Babe Ruth All Star team, and he led them to a state tournament. And as they say, the rest is history.

Indian River Community College hired him in August of 1975 as a guidance counselor and head baseball coach. The next 31 years produced more accomplishments than he could have imagined. State championships, world series appearances, coach of the year honors, and the opportunity to touch so many young men's lives were all highlights of a successful career.

Along the way he also managed in the minor leagues for the Yankees, the Expos, and the Brewers. He was a batting instructor for the Royals in 2006. He coached on the USA Olympic baseball team in 1992 and was eventually inducted into four different Halls of Fame, including the NJCAA Hall in Grand Junction, Colorado.

After his retirement from IRCC in 2006, he went on to coach five successful seasons of John Carroll High baseball, including a state runner-up finish in 2008.

In recent years, IRSC honored Mike with the naming of Mike Easom Field on the main campus in Ft. Pierce, Florida, in 2022 and by retiring his #4 jersey to be displayed on the Russo Family Training Facility on the main campus in 2024.

Of all the honors he ever earned though, he was most proud of his two children - Christopher born in March of 1976 and Ashley born in June of 1979. His five grandchildren were definitely the lights of his life as well.

Mike was predeceased by his father and mother, brother Gary, brother Gene, and sister Kathy. Contributions may be made to Treasure Coast Hospice or a charity of your choice in his name.

Mike hopes you will enjoy a baseball game, play hide and seek with the kids, watch some black and gray TV, and treasure the time you have with your friends and loved ones. He wished he had had more time.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, December 7 on Mike Easom Field on IRSC's main campus in Ft. Pierce at 2 PM.