He was born in Newland, N.C. on November 15, 1939, son of the late Helen Johnson Oakes and Earnest Oakes Sr.
Earnest proudly served in the US ARMY in the 101st Airborne.
Earnest was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann Marie Oakes who passed away in 1992 and by his second wife, Carol Oakes who passed away in 2017; his brother, Joe Oakes and by his sister, Barbara Kirkman.
He is survived by his daughter, Debbie Horton (John); his sons, David Oakes (Michelle) and Ken Oakes (Dara); his grandchildren, Christopher Oakes (Samantha), Colbey Oakes (Christine), Dillion Oakes (Elizabeth), Stephen Oakes (Courtney), Erika Oakes, Savannah Oakes, R.J. Horton (Madison) and Angela Hamilton (Pierce) and by his eleven great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6:00pm until 8:00pm Saturday, December 21, 2019 at McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe, 204 S. Main St., Monroe, NC 28112. A graveside service will be held 2:00pm Monday, December 23, 2019 in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 14050 E. Wade Hampton Blvd., Greer, SC 29651. McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe is honored to serve the Oakes family.
