Larry Eugene Ernest

Larry Eugene Ernest was born February 12, 1965 to Jerry and Jean (Salisbury) Ernest at the Caney Hospital in Caney, KS.

At age 15, Larry began working for Jack Morris at the Phillips 66 Station on the northwest corner of Main and 4th Streets, and enjoyed his job immensely. He worked there until age 18. Larry enjoyed camping with his family with the Kankoliners Camping group. He rodeoed for a short time, riding bulls. When he was 14 and his sister, Pam, was 10, they would go ghost hunting, an activity they both still enjoy. One favorite past time was collecting railroad date nails, glass insulators, marbles and twist top beer cans. He had an amazing collection of them at one time. He loved to fish and hunt with his dad and uncles. There are way too many numerous stories about their escapades to list here. He attended school in Caney, graduating in 1983. After graduation, he was a lineman for Melanders in Pennsylvania.

He joined the Navy in 1987, serving as a SeeBee in Japan and Spain as a welder. Once he discharged from the Navy, he went to Tulsa Welding School and worked as a code welder for Phillips Refinery. He was one of the guys who went in when they shut down sites or turned them around. He liked working fabric metal carpentry, working on metal cabinets.

Larry helped raise his girlfriend of 23 years, Shawnda Rowden’s children, Lauren, Trever and Trenten Pippin and is survived by them. He is also survived by former son-in-law John Fry, who remained a valued part of the family. He has always been a Dad to them, and now a Poppy to their children. His five grandchildren are Taybin (16) and Xander (1), sons of Lauren, Vivian (7) Barrett (5) and Ila (2), children of Trenten and Olivia. He loved them all dearly. Over the years Poppy was a Grandfather to all children, becoming a poppy to children of Karissa and Corey Friend, Trey (17) Makayla (15) and River (10).

Larry had one sister, Pamela Ernest from Caney, and two nephews, Tim (Carrie) Wheeler of Caney and Erik Van Schijndel of Overland Park, KS, and one great nephew, Brayden Wheeler and two great nieces, Chloe and Jessa Wheeler. He also has two step brothers, Kevin Huggins, Mike (Kim) Huggins. And a great number of nieces and nephews on this side. Larry is survived by his mother, Jean Ernest, step mother, Connie Ernest, step-children, grandchildren, many special cousins, aunts and uncles and friends.

He was proceeded in death by his father, Jerry Ernest of Carl Junction, MO, sister Debra Lee Ernest of Caney, his grandparents, Rex and Bonnie Ernest of Goodman, MO, Glen and Dorothy Salisbury of Caney, Kansas, and uncle Danny Salisbury of Independence, KS, Uncles Tom Ernest, Ronnie Ernest, Lester Ernest and Dennis Ernest, aunts JoAnn Ernest and Shirley (Ernest) Todd and step-brother, Darrell Huggins.

Cremation will take place under Ozark Funeral Home in Joplin Mo. A Celebration of Life will be held November 1st. Details to come.