Ellyn Royer Easterling

1931 - 2025

Mary Ellyn Royer Easterling passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on August 29, 2025 in the Hospice Unit of UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus. She was 93 years old. Ellyn was born the daughter of William Taylor and Ada Threatt Royer on October 27, 1931 in Bishopville, South Carolina. After graduation from Bishopville High School, she received a BA from Meredith College in 1950 and later received a Masters of Early Childhood Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ellyn established and managed the first Kindergarten and Day Care Center at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, NC. Ellyn married her childhood sweetheart, the late Dr. Bill Easterling, on June 7,1952. They started their 59 years together in Chapel Hill, NC as Bill finished his medical education. After short stops in Smyrna, TN and Pacific Palisades, CA, Ellyn and Bill settled in Chapel Hill in 1964 where they spent the rest of their lives as die-hard Tarheels. Ellyn's true calling was being the matriarch of a family that included sons Bill (Mary) of Charlottesville, VA, David (Kimberly) of Hendersonville, NC, Bryan (Carole) of Franklin, TN, Wyatt of Chapel Hill, and Jeff (Melinda) of Chapel Hill, NC. In addition to her 5 sons and daughters-in-law, she is survived by grandchildren, Hannah Howell (Christopher), Elise Easterling, Katie Ivers (Adam), Chelsea Easterling, Cole Capshaw, William Capshaw, Sara Weaver (Chris), Adam Easterling, Joel Dahlhauser and Arin Dahlhauser, Colten Easterling (Vanessa), Helen Easterling (and friend Danny), Claire Easterling, Elizabeth Easterling and four great grandchildren. She remained close to her former daughter-in-law, Michele Easterling of Chapel Hill. Under her guidance and love, all 5 sons survived spirited and rambunctious childhoods to become thriving adults. Ellyn was active in the University's Women's Club, her Garden Club (The Gay Rakes) and was devoted to her church, The Chapel of the Cross. Ellyn was an excellent athlete and loved to play golf and tennis. She also loved her bridge club, mountain farm in Sparta, NC, beautiful sunsets at the family beach cottage in Pine Knoll Shores, NC, long walks on the beach, and a glass of white wine at the end of the day. She never lost her South Carolina low country accent, and we will all miss hearing it. Her memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. October 18th at The Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, NC.