W.C. Earnest

W.C. Earnest, 83, of Manila died Monday, May 11, 2009, at the home of his son in Manila. Born Dec. 5, 1925, in Okolona, Miss., the son of the late Robert Earnest, Sr., and Beatrice Lewis Earnest, he was a lifelong area resident, a retired press operator for the Randall Co., and member of Crossroads Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a former member of the American Legion.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Smith Earnest; a son, Gary Wayne Earnest; and a grandson, Phillip Earnest, Jr.

Mr. Earnest leaves his sons, Phil Earnest and his wife Gail of Manila, and Freddie Earnest and his wife Nitalynn of Gosnell; a brother, Johnnie Earnest of Lemont, Ill.; a sister, Nadine Stemick of Florida; grandchildren, Magan Imler of Clinton, Rusty and Stephen Earnest of Caraway; Hannah Earnest of Gosnell, and Myra and Morgan Earnest of Manila; and two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Hunter Earnest.

The funeral was held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel in Blytheville with Rev. Leroy Douglas officiating. Burial was in the Manila Cemetery. The family received visitors Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Condolences can be e-mailed to cobbfuneralhome@sbcglobal.net.