C. Donald Easterday

1934 - 2016

Donald (Don) Easterday, 82 of Myersville, passed away on November 16 in Frederick, MD.  He married his high school sweetheart, Wanda K. Easterday, in 1959 and were married for 57 years.

Don was born March 2, 1934 on the family homestead off of Easterday Road near Myersville, MD.  He was the son of the late Charles I. and Dorotha E. Easterday.  Don graduated from Middletown High School in 1952.  He earned his BS in biology from Shepherd University in 1960 and completed graduate studies in the field of public health at the University of North Carolina, the University of Maryland and Loyola University.

In his teenage years, he performed custom combining for local farmers. He worked for 21 years with the State of Maryland, specializing in the field of air quality control and worked 42 years with the Frederick County Farm Bureau as Secretary/Administrator.  Don helped organize the Property Owners Association of Greater Frederick.  He served in various capacities with the Myersville Lions Club and received the Melvin Jones fellowship for Humanitarian Service from the Lions Club International Foundation.  He helped organize and hosted a number of international reunions of the Easterday/Ostertag Association of America at the family homestead and attended reunions in Germany. 

He was active in the preservation and restoration of historic buildings. He was a member of the Frederick County Tourism and participated in the Frederick County Museum by Candlelight, hosting tours of the historic structures on the family homestead.  He acquired the Hagerstown-Frederick (H&F) Trolley 150 in 1992 and restored the trolley shortly thereafter.  In 1994, he established and hosted the Myersville Trolley Festival and attracted trolley enthusiasts from all over the country. This festival was built around his love of the H&F trolley that ran through the local area from 1898 until 1956. Tens of thousands of trolley enthusiasts attended 18 Trolley Festivals between 1994 and 2012.

Don grew up on the family farm and built a lifetime relationship with the land and people of Frederick County. He designed, built, renovated and made additions to a number of buildings and structures. Don's efforts earned him a 4-H National Award for Homes/Grounds Beautification. Starting in the 1990's, he transformed the family farm into an event center called "Ostertag Vistas". Over the course of nearly 20 years, Don renovated and repurposed structures, three of which are recognized by the Frederick County Landmark Foundation. Ostertag Vistas has hosted the nuptials of more than 1,000 couples.

Don was a long-time member of the Myersville Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, serving as chairman of the cemetery board and sang in the church choir for many years.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Tanya Easterday-Cheney and husband Jack Cheney of Newport News, Virginia, and Donna Easterday and husband Gary Morris of New Market, Maryland, and two grandchildren, Katherine Easterday-Cheney and Michael Easterday-Cheney.

Memorial donations can be made to the Myersville Lions Club by sending to PO Box 299, Myersville, MD  21773.

The family will receive friends on November 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Keeney & Basford Funeral Home at 106 East Church Street in Frederick.  On November 21 from 9:00-10:00, a viewing will be held for immediate family only at the Myersville Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.  A public viewing will follow from 10:00 - 10:55, with funeral services at 11:00.  Interment and luncheon will follow at the church. Please visit Mr. Easterday's online memorial by going to www.keeneybasford.com