C. Wayne East, 86, of Hopkinsville, died at 3:01 a.m. Monday, March 17, 2025 at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, TN.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour. Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
A native of Hopkinsville, KY he was born November 18, 1938, the son of the late Jessie Edwards and Ewing Bryant East. Wayne was a graduate of Hopkinsville High School and the Bemis Lawrence Real Estate School. Wayne went on to serve two years in the United States Marine Corp. Wayne worked as a lineman for the Electric Plant Board from 1961-1975. From 1975-1976 Wayne served as Vice President for First Federal Savings and Loan. In 1976-1977, Wayne worked as a Realtor Associate and Sales Manager at Jewell Long Realtor.
In 1978, Town & Country Real Estate and Investment Co. (which would become Century 21 Town & Country Real Estate, and later return to its present-day name, Town & Country Real Estate) was formed. East Construction would also be formed that year.
Wayne would go on to have much success and serve his community as a realtor and developer. Wayne would serve as President of the Hopkinsville Board of Realtors from 1979-1981. In 1980 Wayne would be Realtor of the Year and also represent the Hopkinsville Board of Realtors as a State Director. Wayne served as President of the Pennyrile Housing Corporation from 1987-1989 and served as a director of the Christian County Home Builders Association in 1989. Wayne was also inducted into the Hopkinsville Christian & Todd County Board of Realtors Hall of Fame. Wayne was a former member of the Hopkinsville Rotary Club. He was an active member and Past President of Christian County Gideon Camp. Wayne was an active member at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his wife: Rosie Lancaster East; his daughter: Carma Lee East; and his sister: Roberta Dudas.
Survivors include his son: David Wayne (Anne) East of Hopkinsville, KY; his daughter: DeAnna (Scott) Daniel of Hopkinsville, KY; his brother: Ed (Sarah) East of Hopkinsville, KY; and his three grandchildren: Connor Rae East, Simon Pryor East, and Davenport Wayne Daniel.
Wayne loved God, his family, hunting pheasant in Nebraska; and all his clients. Wayne had a deep desire for people to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and that is one of the reasons the Gideon ministry was so important to Wayne. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Gideon’s International P.O. Box 982, Hopkinsville, KY 42241.
