Mary Kay Easty

Mary Kay Easty, 74, a widely respected church music director and organist, died on Tuesday of pulmonary fibrosis. Known for her commitment to outstanding church music programs and her own remarkable musicianship, Mary Kay will be missed by the communities she served and her friends around the country.

Mary Kay was born on December 22, 1936 to Raymond and Mary Hall in Toledo, Ohio. She was the beloved wife of Dwight, loved mother of sons Allen (Julie) Easty and their son Ross of Katy, Texas and David Easty currently serving in Afghanistan; a daughter: Anne Wilder and partner Anne Clauser of Madison. She is also survived by nephew Mike Hall and niece Linda Ashley.

Mary Kay's musical career spanned her entire lifetime. As a teenager she played organ for her local church and was a piano and organ soloist for the Toledo Orchestra. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree in 1958 at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio and was elected to Mortar Board and Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary society. She was awarded the Presser Foundation Scholarship and the Slocum Prize for Music. After marriage and beginning a family, Mary Kay completed her Master of Music degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Later she continued her postgraduate study of organ in the Netherlands and privately with world-renowned organist Marie-Claire Alain in Paris.

Mary Kay was the organist at churches in New Castle, Del., Columbus, Ohio, and Madison, Wis. before she and her family settled in Appleton. After serving at Zion Lutheran Church, she joined First Congregational U.C.C. and was Director of Music Ministries for 34 years. Under her leadership, the music program flourished and the sanctuary choir was recognized as one of the finest church choirs in the Midwest. The choir received many honors including being selected to perform at state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and in cathedrals in England, Scotland and Wales.

In 1999 Mary Kay was awarded the first Outstanding Church Musician Award by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association. She conducted workshops for adult and children's choirs throughout the state, and served as the American Choral Directors Association State Chair for Church Music.

In addition to her success as a choral director, Mary Kay offered congregations and communities a wide array of organ performances. She was considered one the finest organists in the state, playing the most virtuosic pieces in the organ repertoire. She served as Dean of the Northeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Her standards of excellence were reflected in the quality of the vocal and instrumental soloists she engaged, including many of the performing musicians on the faculty of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. She was instrumental in establishing the Lawrence Scholars Program and the Organ Scholars Program at First Congregational Church. In 2006 Mary Kay “retired” from First Congregational Church, but was persuaded to bring her musical leadership back to Zion Lutheran Church. She served as Director of Music until her death.

Mary Kay was preceded in death by her father, mother and brother.

A memorial service for Mary Kay will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at FIRST CONGREGATIONAL U.C.C., 724 E. South River Street in Appleton. Rev. Stephen Savides and Rev. Jane Anderson will preside. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers and gifts, please send donations to the Zion Lutheran Church Organ Fund in Mary Kay's name: Zion Lutheran Church, 912 N. Oneida Street, Appleton, Wis. 54911

The Easty family thanks the outstanding doctors and nurses at Appleton Medical Center for their care of Mary Kay.

All who have sung with Mary Kay are invited to join the choir for the service. An informal rehearsal will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the lower-level choir room. Contact John Albrecht at jalbrecht@firstcongoappleton.org if you would like to participate.

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
920-739-1231