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Richard Eady passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 25, 2020.

Eady was born on Aug. 9, 1939 in Rabun, which is where he lived his entire life. He was one of six children and he spent his childhood working on the farm.

Eady was a skilled heavy equipment operator, mechanic and farmer. He married Barbara Giddins in 1963 and they had four children.

Although his children thought he ran a pretty tight ship when they were young, his grandchildren could do no wrong. By the time great-grandchildren came along, he was leaving candy in their mailbox, giving them all the sweet tea their heart desired and letting them play with anything and everything.

You could usually find him fishing, tinkering, visiting with his family or watching westerns. No matter the occasion, he would always be wearing his trilby hat with a notebook and pen in his shirt pocket.

Eady was a fixer of all things, whether it be a backhoe, a truck, a tricycle or a broken heart. He was a good listener and provided invaluable words of wisdom that will be shared for generations to come.

Eady is preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Nettie Eady; his siblings, Hubert Eady, Buddy Eady, Melba Parker, Bruce Eady and Doris Stewart; his daughter, Tracey Eady; his great-grandchildren, Trinity Long, Malaki Lender, Peyton Giles and Blayne Shackelford.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Eady; his children, Cindy Eady, Duane (Tammy) Eady and Daphne (Syd) Reed; his grandchildren, Shauntae (James) Giles, Syndle Vinson, Jessica (James) Rockhill, Kimberly Hicks, Charity Eady, Alyssa (Andrew Harville) Blackburn, Allie (Matt) Shackelford, Briana (Juan Lopez) Blackburn, Carlie Reed, Sydney Reed and Chaynce Eady; and his great-grandchildren, Kolten Coleman, Jordyn Shackelford, Ariel Vinson, Kyra Vinson, Blaiklynn Long, Serenity Vinson, Emma Rockhill, Ana Reece Bryant, Lyla Drew Harville, Abigail Rockhill, Maxwell Lopez, Mattie Shackelford, Bennett Rockhill, Ronan Lopez, Ellie Grace Shackelford, Beau Boudreaux and Nolan Lopez.

The family will receive friends tomorrow, Thurs., Oct. 1, 2020, from noon until 2 p.m. at Lighthouse Tabernacle Church of God, 54362 Rabun Rd, Bay Minette, AL 36507. Services will follow at 2 p.m. with graveside immediately after at Dean Cemetery in Rabun.

Pallbearers will be Chaynce Eady, Kolten Coleman, Jeff Parker, Syd Reed, James Rockhill and Matt Shackelford. Honorary pallbearers will be Joey Eady, Jack Bush, Brian Blackburn and James Giles.