Thomas C. Ealy

Thomas C. Ealy
(1918-2009)
Mr. Ealy, of Charlotte, died Thursday, September 10, 2009. He trained as an artist at the University of Michigan in the late 1930's, while working his way through college. He painted as well as collected beautiful art throughout his life, and passed on his passion for art to both surviving sons, W. Carl Ealy, nationally renowned artist and founder of Pathway Art Cards and Dr. George T. Ealy, M.D., Ph.d., a professor of microbiology in Jacksonville, FL.
Ealy was born in Dickson, TN, in 1918, and upon graduating high school with top honors (2nd in class), he majored in art at the University of Michigan. A veteran of World War II, Ealy was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 1945 after serving in the Pacific Theater in the Philippines.
After teaching art initially after college, Tom became involved full-time with the growing real estate market in Charlotte. Initially starting as a real estate salesman, he quickly became a well-known Realtor in town, and was named Charlotte's 'Outstanding Realtor' in 1969.
In 1964, Tom and his wife, Garnice Knight Ealy (now deceased) founded Ealy Realty Co. which served the Charlotte area for over 40 years before his semi-retirement in 2007 at age 89. Ealy was elected to the Charlotte Symphony League in 1989, and was an active patron of the Opera Carolina and the Mint Museum for many decades.
One of his proudest moments, on his 70th birthday, was playing a round of golf with his son George, and hitting a hole-in-one at the Belvedere Golf Club in Hampstead, near at his summer home on Topsail Island.
A memorial service in Thomas C. Ealy's honor upon his death at 91 will be held at the Chapel of Christ Church Episcopal in Charlotte on Tuesday afternoon, September 15, at 4:00 pm. Donations in Ealy's honor should be made to Christ Church Episcopal.