James Hix Earnest, Sr., 87, of Tallahassee, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, December 27th, 2012.
Born in Miami, Florida, Jim lived with his wife, Mary, and raised their four children. In his retirement years, they moved to Tallahassee in 1997. After Mary went to be with her Lord, God blessed Jim with the gift of his second wife, Betty Crisler.
A graduate of Miami Senior High School, Jim played violin in the school orchestra and ran on the track team. In college, he was active in Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He later served as President of both the Florida District Exchange Clubs and the University of Miami Alumni Association. He and Mary were also active Miami Senior High band parents for 9 years. After high school, Jim became a Naval Medical Corpsman during WWII.
Earning his Bachelor's at Emory University, he completed his law degree at the University of Miami. He began his law career working with his father, Ray M. Earnest, until his appointment as Judge of the Dade County Civil Court of Record in 1963. After serving for 18 years as a Judge in Circuit and Criminal Courts, he practiced family law, including veteran guardianships and adoptions. Jim was dedicated to his family and enjoyed taking them on summer camping trips across the US. He felt strongly that bringing his family to church every Sunday was important for their spiritual growth. At Trinity Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church of Miami, he served as a Sunday school teacher and lay leader, as well as a youth director with Mary. At Key Biscayne Presbyterian, he served as an elder and sang in the choir. He enjoyed participating in Bible Study Fellowship for more than seven years. At Wildwood Church in Tallahassee, he served with the ministry of Our Father's Storehouse in prayer and counseling, played violin in worship services, and participated as a leader in the Senior Ministry and the weekly prayer group. Jim was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary C. Wilson, and survived by his wife of 9 years, Betty Crisler. Other survivors include four children, Susan Ellisor (and husband LeGrand) of Pensacola, Carol Berry (and husband Mark) serving in Laos, Annette Maloney (and husband Tom) of Tallahassee, and James H. (Jay) Earnest, Jr. (and wife Debbie) of Zephyrhills; 2 step-children, Ellen Lyons (and husband Patrick) and Richard Crisler (and wife Vanessa) of Tallahassee; 16 grandchildren, Andrea Peters (and husband Stan) of Sicily, Tiffany Tate (and husband Keith) of Virginia Beach, Daniel Berry, Rachel Berry, Carolyn Berry, Charissa Berry, Ariel Berry, Kimberly Berry, Judah Berry, Alyssa Maloney, Nathan Maloney, Travis Earnest, Jonathan Earnest, Angela Earnest, Julia Lyons, and Richard Emory Lyons; and 1 great-grandchild, Tripp Peters.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, January 4th, 2013, at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road in Tallahassee, Florida. A memorial service will be held at Wildwood Presbyterian Church, 100 Ox Bottom Road in Tallahassee, on Saturday, January 5th at 10 am, followed by a graveside service at Culley's Meadowwood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Our Father's Storehouse Ministry at Wildwood Church.
Please sign the guest book at www.culleysmeadowwoodfuneral.com.
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