James Rowland "Buddy" Early, 70, lost his courageous battle with brain cancer on September 23, 2012. He was surrounded by his loving family at their home in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He was born January 12, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, son of the late George Rowland Early and Eva Early. He graduated from Messick High School and attended University of Memphis. He worked 30 years with Carrier Corporation where he then retired to enjoy many years with his Colleen. He had the greatest sense of humor to the very end of his life and loved his family with everything he had. He is survived by his high school sweetheart, wife of 52 years, Colleen Brown Early; daughter, Kimberly Early (Tim) Gannon; two sons, James "Bubba" (Tina) Early and Christopher Early; grandchildren, Stephanie (Jimmy) Vandagriff, Shannon Bankard, Matthew Bankard, Justin Early, Eric (Alison) Gannon, Dustin (Nicole) Gannon, Meghan Smith, and Chelsea Smith; great-grandchildren, Jimmy "JD" Vandagriff, MacKenzie Colleen Vandagriff, Graycee Allen, Lilly Greene, and Tyson Gannon; sisters, Shirley Carter, Virginia Turner, Barbara Brady, Linda (Jimmy) Doyle; and one dear brother, Glenn (Shelley) Early; a brother-in-law and golfing buddy, Larry (Cathy) Brown; sister-in-law Patty (John) Quinn; along with numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister, Jean Turner. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 25 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, September 26 at 10:00 am at Forest Hill Funeral Home, 2545 East Holmes Road, Memphis, TN. The service will be conducted by family friend, Pastor Roy Hendrick. At the family''s request, memorial donations may be sent to the National Brain Tumor Society East Coast Office, 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D, Watertown, MA 02472 (www.braintumor.org) in honor of James Early.

Forest Hill Funeral Home South
901-346-3250