Courtney, Earnest R. 'Ernie'

Earnest R. “Ernie” Courtney, 86 of Mount Vernon, died Thursday, March 1, 2012 in St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. The families will greet friends Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Morgan Funeral Choices, Mount Vernon. Ernie's funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with military honors. A private family burial will take place in Lisbon Cemetery.

Surviving Ernie are his children, Gene (Thelma) Rutherford, Onslow, Barb Adams, Marion, Harold (Sharla) Courtney, Millington, Tenn., Teresa Courtney, Grinnell, Becky (Dale) McCarville, Earnest R. Courtney II (Jan), Diana Courtney (Myron), all of Hiawatha, and Brian Courtney and Penney (Britt) Courtney-Meister, both of Lisbon. He is survived by 21 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Also surviving Ernie are his sister, Susie Schippers, Bussey, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Ernie in death were his wife, Ruth; parents; brothers, Elmer, Liston, Bill and Harold; sisters, Esther, Mary, Nettie and Evelyn; and great- grandson, Smoke.

Ernie was born June 29, 1925 in Hamilton, Iowa, the son of Earnest E. and Alice Blanche Fowler Courtney. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean conflict. Ernie was a member of American Legion Post #298, Marion and a member of the Cyclops American Legion Post #109, Lisbon. He married Nadine Rutherford and later divorced. He married Ruth McDowell on March 19, 1955. She died November 17, 2002. Ernie retired after 30 years from Roland-Wilbert Vault Company, Marion.

After Ernie's retirement, he volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels and won the KCRG-TV9 9 Who Care award. He was active in the United Methodist Church, Lisbon, where you would often see him doing dishes.

In lieu of flowers/plants, memorials in Ernie's honor may be made to the donor's choice.

Published March 4, 2012 in The Gazette