Earnest Raymond Crouse

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Earnest Raymond Crouse, 88, of Jonesboro, formerly of Manila and Marion, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, at the Skilcare Nursing Center in Jonesboro. Born in the Blackwater Community near Manila, he was the son of the late Charles and Mary Parker Crouse. He was a longtime resident of Marion before making his home in Jonesboro. He was a retired farmer and painter. He was a member of the #49 Painters Union Hall in Memphis, Tenn., the American Legion, St. Bernards Senior Citizens Center in Jonesboro and the Fellowship Baptist Church in Marion.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Earl Crouse; three sisters, Rachel Hensley, Marie Smith, Ortha Scott; and a granddaughter, Joanna Desiree Crouse.

Survivors include his wife, Julie Diann Braswell Crouse of Marion; two sons, Raymond Crouse of Jonesboro and Kevin Crouse of Marion; two daughters, Donna Bocanegra of Bono and Martha Cunningham of Oxford, Miss.; two brothers, Wesley Crouse and Bernard Crouse, both of Manila; and three sisters, Delphia Waddell of Manila, Bernice Ellis of Mt. Home, and Lola Brown of Blytheville; 11 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held at 3 p.m. Friday in the Howard Funeral Chapel in Manila with pastors, Anthony and Sheree Strickland officiating. Burial was in the Manila Cemetery.

Serving as active pallbearers were Scott Cunningham, Todd Huckabee, Michael Page, Jason Coffel, Randall Carroll, Ray Crouse, Chris Lewis, and Nick Bocanegra.

The family received visitors Thursday evening at the funeral home.

To sign the online guest register log on to howardfuneralservice.com.