Earl David Zerby was born April 10, 1946 at his family home near Custer City, Oklahoma to Wes and Goldie (Warner) Zerby, and was called home Friday, June 25, 2021. He grew up on a farm near Custer and graduated from Custer high school in 1964. He received his Bachelor of Education degree from Southwestern State College, Weatherford, Oklahoma in 1968 and joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Bentwaters AFB in Suffolk County, England. Knowing he would spend the remainder of his tour of duty in England, he proposed to his Oklahoma hometown sweetheart, Carol Frances Conkling, and they were married March 5, 1969 at the Bentwaters base chapel. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Dallas, Texas to pursue a Master of Industrial Arts degree at the University of North Texas while working nights for Honeywell. Upon completion of his degree he accepted a teaching position at Garland, Texas. His students received numerous awards at local and state woodworking competitions. After Carol completed her studies at Baylor Dental Hygiene program in Dallas, Earl accepted a teaching position at Yukon High School in 1974 and remained there until he retired from teaching in 1997. While he was teaching at Yukon, he also worked part-time as a school carpenter. After retiring from teaching he continued as a school carpenter full time until 2014, ultimately serving at the Yukon school system 40 years. On his first day of in-service at Yukon High School, his son Scott David was born August 22, 1974. Four years later, Sheila Dawn was born April 25, 1978. Earl and Carol established their first home in Yukon, and Earl made many improvements to the property as only he could. Later, he helped build two more homes for his family in the Yukon area. Earl was a master carpenter and skilled in all aspects of construction. There was nothing he could not build or fix. He was generous with his time and talents, not only for his family but for his Get Real Sunday school class members. Earl was one of the first to volunteer to help, and always gave his best effort. He loved all aspects of woodworking, and commented that he loved even the smell of the woodshop. Most of all he enjoyed working on projects with his family and teaching his son and grandsons how to make projects. Being a "farm boy" he loved working outside and took pride in keeping a neat landscape, working many hours with his wife gardening. His favorite recreations were fishing, hunting, traveling in his 5th wheel, and going on cruises. He especially loved fishing in some of the farm ponds around Custer City. Earl always strived to help his family and others. Even to the end his thoughts were making sure everything was in order for his family. He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Frances Zerby; son, Scott David Zerby and wife Kim of Yukon; daughter, Sheila Dawn Zerby of Yukon; grandchildren, Chelsey Zerby of Wichita, KS, Caleb Zerby and wife Kayla of Amarillo, TX, Joshua Don Zerby and Hope Kathryn Zerby of Yukon, OK; and brother, John Zerby of Custer City. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wes and Goldie Zerby, brother, K.D. Zerby, and sisters, Bernadine Bowes, Phillis Shepherd, and Debbie Zerby. The world was a better place because Earl was in it. He knew Christ as his savior, and will be truly missed by his family and all whose lives he touched. Viewing will be Monday, June 28, 2021 from 10am-8pm at Mercer-Adams with family present from 5:30-7:30pm. Funeral service 2:00pm, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene with interment to follow in Yukon Cemetery. . Visitation with Family Present Mercer-Adams Chapel Monday, June 28, 2021 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 3925 N. Asbury Bethany, OK 73008 Viewing Monday 10am-8pm at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service Bethany First Church of the Nazarene Tuesday, June 29, 2021 2:00 PM 6789 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, Oklahoma 73008