La-Fayette East, 81, of Etowah, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Woods Memorial Hospital. A native of New Site, Ala., and a resident of Etowah since 1968, he served in the U.S. Army and was commander of American Legion Post 11 of Etowah. He attended Zion Hill Baptist Church. A son of the late Mitchel D. and Dicie East, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Elizabeth East; two sisters, Lou Alice Allen and Anne Laura Musick; one brother; and one stepdaughter, Deloris Parks. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Brenda East and Paul and Patti East, all of Etowah; three grandchildren, Jake East, Kellyn Taylor and Brittany East; two stepchildren, Susan Park Hembree and Richard Parks; and two step-great-grandchildren, Megan McMahan and Chris Catlett. Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home with Mark Hensley officiating. Burial will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Green Hill Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post 11, c/o Wesley Teague, 358 County Rd. 656, Athens, TN 37303.

Bordwine Funeral Home of Etowah is in charge of arrangements.