Rest in Peace Coach

High school basketball in the Ozarks has lost a coaching legend (as I have seen on other posts). Joe Easter was at Stoutland, Ellington, Purdy, Seymour?, and I was also told he may have started at Norwood. I remember him most from Cabool and Mtn. Grove. During his many years at Cabool he and Brent Colley would trade "gifts" to each other during player introductions. There were a few games that landed on Valentine's day and those were the "fun" ones, along with the camoflauge wrist bands, head bands, standing at attention and salutes to "The General" Brent Colley. While we loved that entertainmen I would watch a coach give his all to get their all of his kids. There were many years that teams would say "just Cabool" only to be sent home not thinking so highly of their "gimme game". Joe would have the Bulldogs playing for district titles in down years, and only Brent Colley is the other coach I'd see pull that off. I have friends in both Cabool and Mtn. Grove who would talk about how he is more than a coach and teacher he'd teach life lessons and help parents raise the kids like his own. The last few years he'd barely look able to come into the gym but he would give Duane Hiler all he could because he had kids playing for district titles and state finals. Cancer may have finally won his body but it never won his spirit. My thoughts and prayers to all his kids in every school he's been, their communities, his family and friends. God be with you all.