Earnest was raised in Dallas, Texas and served as an E1 for three years. He married Dora Harrell in 1965, and together they welcomed two children, Gene and Terry. Over the years, Earnest built a life rooted in steady work and steadfast commitment, earning his living as a carpenter and truck driver.
Those who knew Earnest knew a man devoted to his family—present, providing, and deeply proud of the home he helped create. He especially cherished time spent with his wife and children, bringing laughter into ordinary moments with his antics and personality. His love for Dora was constant and unmistakable, and he held all of his children close to his heart. In the roles that mattered most to him, he was a wonderful husband and a devoted father and provider.
Earnest was preceded in death by his mother, Valerie Harrell; his father, Everett Lee Harrell; his brother, Jimmy Lee Harrell; his mother-in-law, Hedwig Elizabeth Elfner; and his father-in-law, Karl Elfner.
He is survived by his wife, Dora Harrell; his son, Gene Harrell; his daughter, Terry Carpenter; his granddaughter, Dora Harrell; his grandsons, Steven Brown and Andrew Carpenter; his great-grandson, Jeffrey Harrell; and his son-in-law, Justin Lenhart.
Earnest's memory will live on in those who knew him.
