Claude M. Earnest

Claude M. Earnest, 83, of Middleton, died Friday morning, April 15, 2005 at Bolivar General Hospital.



The husband of Pearl Earnest, who survives, he was a farmer. Mr.

Earnest was born October 26,1921 in Hardeman County, son of the

late Tillman and Mary Lucille Davenport Earnest. He served in the

U.S.Army during WWII in France and Germany and at the Battle

of the Bulge. Mr. Earnest made his home in Middleton in 1945

after returning from Europe and was a member of Chapel Hill

Baptist Church.



Services were 2 PM Sunday, April 17 at Shackelford Funeral

Directors Middleton chapel with Frank Bell officiating. Burial was

in the Earnest Family Cemetery near Middleton.



In addition to his wife, whom he married October 25, 1947,

survivors include one daughter and two sons, Sue Stephens, James

H. and Ray Earnest, all of Middleton; three sisters, Earline Henson

of Middleton, Frances Rayburn of Sardis, Miss. and Lorraine

Minga of Senatobia, MS; one brother, Edward Earnest of

Memphis; four grandchildren, Kim Emerson, Robert Stephens,

Andrea Crum and Brandon Earnest and four great grandchildren,

Alex Crum and Katelyn, Connor & Campbell Emerson. He was

preceded in death by three brothers, Earl, Leo and Tillman, Jr.

and three sisters, Florence Earnest, Christine Clark and Martha

West.