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Ernest (Ernie) Edward Estes was born June 29,1924 in Paris, Texas to Ola Bell (Boyd) and Ernest Emory Estes and went to sleep in Christ on Tuesday morning, August 2, 2016, having fought the good fight of faith. He was surrounded by those who genuinely loved and appreciated him for the life he lived in service to his country, his family, his church and his friends. He will arise at the resurrection to be gloriously and eternally present with our Lord and reunited with his wife, Juanell, the love of his life, along with his children, grandchildren and friends.
He always told people that he was “born to work” and did so from a child right up to the end.
That virtue was passed down to his daughters and he took pride in the work ethic he observed from them over the years. He always found ways to help his church and others, always willing to labor in whatever work needed to be done. Doing things for others was the way Ernie expressed his love, which is far more powerful than simply spoken words.
Ernie served his country in World War II as a Sergeant in the 12th Air Service Group of the United States Army as part of the Asiatic Pacific Campaign and part of the famed “Flying Tigers” in China. He outlived most of his fellow soldiers but kept in touch with many of those friends at annual reunions.
After the war, Ernie married Joy Juanell Davis in Sayre, Oklahoma and they moved to California where Ernie went to work for the Santa Maria Valley Railroad as a day laborer. Before retiring he had become Superintendent for that short line railroad and established himself among his peers as a gifted and trusted railroad man. Juanell was a gifted pianist and together they spent many years serving their church with Juanell singing and playing the piano and Ernie leading the singing of hymns.
Ernie was a talented craftsman. He loved to whittle and created many
carvings over the years. He also had a passion for raising flowers, plants
and trees. His home in Santa Maria received many awards for its beautiful
landscaping. In the last few years of his life he made canes from limbs he
would pick up and gave them away to others.
He is one of those men who
will be missed and the world is a better place because he lived for 92 years
among us.
He is preceded in death by his wife of almost 66 years, Juanell, a daughter, Sandra Deniese, his parents, Ola Bell and Ernest, three brothers, James Thomas, Leo Ray and Billy Sam.
He is survived by two daughters, Sue Ann Lakey and husband Robert of Sayre, Oklahoma, and Carolyn Chacon and husband Dan of Paulden, Arizona, four grandchildren, Jamie Lakey and wife Robin of Sayre, Oklahoma, Lindsay Northcutt and husband Jeremy of Grapevine, Texas, Cullen Chacon and wife Carrie of Phoenix, Arizona and Jared Chacon of Sacramento, California, ten great grandchildren, Lawson and Landry Lakey, Miles, Knox, Lakey and Hayes Northcutt, and Alane, Darien, Madison and Arabella Chacon, two sisters, Betty Jo Silva Smith of Guadalupe, California, Margaret Cook of Santa Maria, California, one brother, Hardy Estes of Nipomo, California and two sisters-in-law, Dora Jean Woods and Loretta Cutright both of Sayre, Oklahoma.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later time. Condolences can be made online at www.whineryfs.com.
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