Williams East

Texas, Archer City - William Alan East, age 41, of Wichita Falls, Texas lost his life Sunday afternoon, August 8, 2010, while crop dusting in Platte County, Nebraska. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 13, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Amory, Mississippi with Dr. Jim Futral, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, and Dr. Allen Simpson, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Amory, officiating. Interment will follow on the family farm located at 1646 Highway 334, Oxford, MS. Visitation will be Thursday, August 12, 2010, from 6-8 p.m. at the home of Van and Dot East, located at 1819 Hwy. 25 North in Amory. A memorial celebration and BBQ dinner is planned for August 21 at 6 p.m. at the Air Tractor factory in Olney, Texas. Casual dress. Those who plan to attend are requested to reply to Sarah Dixon sdixon@airtractor.com or 940-564-5616. Alan was born in Amory, Mississippi on June 23, 1969, to Van P. East, Jr. and Dorothy Vinson East. He attended Amory Public Schools before graduating from Chickasaw Academy. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1996 with a degree in Criminal Justice and minors in Military and Political Sciences. He was an Eagle Scout, a member of the Amory Swim Team, nose guard for the Amory Panthers and a member of the Ole Miss Rugby Club, of which he was the president. He served fourteen years in the Army National Guard as a commissioned officer, with a tour in Bosnia (2001- 2002) and a tour in Iraq (2004 -2006). Alan and his wife, Kara, were married on December 20, 1998, and they made their home in Wichita Falls, Texas, where they were members of Rephidim Church. Alan was a professional pilot, working as a test pilot for Air Tractor, Inc. in Olney, Texas, as well as a crop dusting pilot. An avid sportsman, Alan enjoyed flying planes, racing cars, hunting, camping, and trout fishing, but above all he loved spending time with his wife, daughter, family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Kara, and daughter, Elisabeth Grace, of Wichita Falls; his parents, Van and Dot East, of Amory, Mississippi; his brother and sister-in-law, Van East III and Cathy East, of Brentwood, Tennessee; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leland and Nancy Snow of Wichita Falls; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kristin and Trevor Edwards of Wichita Falls; brother-in-law, Michael Aulds, Sr. of Archer City; and six nieces and nephews, Van East, IV, Kingsley East, Alexandra Aulds, Michael Aulds, Jr., Abby Aulds and Brennan Edwards. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lou Anne “Pebbles” East Aulds, who passed away on August 17, 2007. Donations may be made in Alan’s memory to the Professional Aerial Applicators Support System (PAASS), which is a safety program for pilots sponsored by the National Agricultural Aviation Association ( www.agaviation.org ) Make checks payable to NAAREF (National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation) and mail to: NAAA, 1005 E St., SE, Washington, DC 20003-2847. Please write on memo: “Alan East Memorial Donation” Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at picklefh@att.net . E. E. Pickle Funeral Home (662)256-2644