Ernest "Ernie" Wayne Carns

Mr.Carns was preceded in death by his parents and the following 14 siblings: Flora Virginia (Long), Robert William, Iva Alice ( Ogden), Arthur Lynn, Ira Oatis,Jr., Enola Belle (Owens), George Welty , Vesta Marie ( Whaling) Walter Scott, Philip Franklin, Reath (Materkowski),Oren Wesley, Thelma Jean ( Diehl), and Ashley Lyle Carns.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Leila Jeanette (Nelson); two sons: Ernest G. Carns (Susanne) and Asa W. Carns; three grandchildren: Dana (Matt) Carns Kerec, Justin ( Kristin) Carns, and Zachary Carns and two great grandchildren, Jackson and Maddox Carns.

During the Korean Conflict, he served in the Army as a radio operator in the 304th Signal Corp. He used the GI Bill, enabling him to earn a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Penn State University.

Ernie's Christian faith began at the Mount Joy Methodist Church. He was a member, served on the council, taught classes and played in the handbell choir at St. John Lutheran Church. Ernie had been worshiping at Christ Lutheran Church in DuBois.

As a child, Ernie raised pigs on the family farm. He was a graduate of Clearfield High School and was a member of the rifle club. After high school, he worked for a land surveying company and Carns Brothers Construction Company. He was a master carpenter and did cabinetwork in the mill at the company.

He was drafted and was married before basic training at Fort Knox prior to being deployed to Korea. He shares stories of helping the Korean children with their English and they in turn helped him with his Korean after earning his degree. He belonged to the American Legion, the Coudersport Consistory and the Jaffa Shrine. He was a lifetime member of the Jaffa Shrine, the F. & A. M. Lodge No. 314, and the Clearfield Elks # 540.

His wife, Leila, and their first-born son, Ernie, moved to Wickenburg, Arizona where he worked for the Arizona Department of Transportation. They later returned to Pennsylvania and settled in Clearfield.

Mr. Carns worked for the state Department of Transportation District 20 for 31 years and 9 months of service. He began as a highway design engineer and helped with some of the original design for Interstate 80 in Clearfield, Centre, and Clinton counties. Transferring to the construction unit, he was engineer - in- charge of construction in the Wolf Run and DuBois area. He was promoted to help in the construction and later on the rehabilitation of the interstate in Clearfield and Centre counties. As an Assistant Construction Engineer, he worked in Elk, McKean, Cameron, Potter and parts of Clearfield County.

Mr. Carns was appointed to the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) on April 4, 1989 where he served faithfully until his retirement on October 9, 2013. He was active on the executive committee and served as their board chairperson.

Outside of work, Mr. Carns was a Cub Scout Master. He donated 147 units of blood to the American Red Cross blood drives over the years.

Ernie always enjoyed talking to strangers and would even share a joke if you had the time.

Mr. Carns enjoyed working in his workshop and would be known to use some duct tape when necessary.

He enjoyed hunting deer with his boys. As they got older, they helped their dad with his land surveying business and Mrs. Carns was convinced to help too. The family vacations of fishing trips took them to Canada, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Ernie and his wife also traveled to Europe while Asa studied there visiting the many castles and churches on their journeys to France, Austria, and Germany. He enjoyed annual Christmas bus trips to NYC with family too.

This past summer Ernie and his devoted wife Leila celebrated 70 years of marriage with family and friends attending a surprise party in their yard with entertainment by JIMASA, (Jim White, vocalist accompanied by Asa) and trivia presented by son Ernie. .The celebration ended with fireworks. They were married on June 6, 1951.

Funeral Services will be held on at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Christ Lutheran Church, 857 Sunflower Dr., DuBois, PA 15801 with Rev. John Miller officiating with military honors being accorded at the church.

Interment will be at Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.

Friends will be received at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc. of Clearfield on Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8:00 PM and on Friday at the church from 9:00 AM until the hour of services.

On Thursday evening at the funeral home the Clearfield Lodge #314 F&AM will conduct a service at 5:45 PM and the Clearfield BPOE Lodge #540 at 6:00 PM.

The family request donations be made to The Shriner's Children Burn Center, One Children's Plaza- 2 West Dayton, Ohio 45404 or The Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, 500 HMC Crescent Road, North Lobby Hershey, PA.17033.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bennettandhouser.com for the Carns family.