In the afternoon of January 4, 2022, Earnest Cornett passed away at home. He was 78 years old.
Earnie was born on January 17, 1943 in Lenoir City Tennessee. He was the first-born child of James and Nancy Cornett. One of his classmates was Linda Goodwin.
Earnie left home at the age of 13, ending up in Circle, Montana with a combine crew. After the harvest season, he attended school in Circle. Around Christmas time, it got too cold, and he headed home with every piece of clothing he owned. Earnie walked until he found a Greyhound bus. He continued this schedule, returning to Circle for working then back to Tennessee for more school. This took 5 years to finish high school. While home in Tennessee finishing high school, he discovered he had two stepsisters and one stepbrother.
In 1962 he served as an Army Ranger, spending 3 years 3 months and 18 days in Vietnam. There he was wounded in action. After the service, he attended Tennessee Tech studying engineering. While there he met his first wife, Jackie. They were blessed with a daughter, Leslie. Jackie didn’t like the name Earnest and began calling him Earnie.
Then he moved back to Montana for a job in Colstrip in the mines. Many stories of him partying and being a wild young man have been told over the years. He was the fool who rode his horse through the BAR!
While serving the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office, he met his second wife, Val. He welcomed her two children, Melessia and Justin. He worked for Harlan Steiger for many years, eventually branching out on his own.
In 2012, he returned to Lenoir City for his 50th class reunion. There he met Linda Nelson, a classmate, marrying a month later. They then came and settled in Forsyth.
Earnie enjoyed many hobbies, including collecting guns and reloading. He helped form the Quigley Black Powder Shoot after seeing the movie, Quigley Down Under. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, and his morning coffee group. Earnie will always be known for his many jokes and pranks on everyone he met. Whether it was from ripping up a dollar bill to give half to each waitress to singing happy birthday off key.
Earnie is preceded in death by his parents, his first and second wives, and his stepsister.
Earnie is survived by his wife Linda, his daughters Leslie Brown and Melessia (Justin) Rogers, his son Justin (Jami) Christofferson, Jessica (Andrew) Bara and their two daughters, Lindsay Collins and her son and daughter, Carter Christofferson, Kenlee Brown, LeaRea Brown. He is also survived by Karen Nutter, Stephen Nutter, and Susan Nutter, Linda’s children. Earnest also has a biological brother, James Samuel Cornett, sister-in-law, Luetta Cornett, niece, Dottie Cornett, nephew, Justin Cornett of Lenoir City, TN. He has four half siblings: Mickey Cornett Allison (deceased), of Lenoir City, TN, Linda Strange, Glenn Strange and Gary Justice (deceased), from Ohio.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Monday January 10, 2022
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Funeral Service
11:00 AM
Tuesday January 11, 2022
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Tuesday January 11, 2022
Forsyth Cemetery
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Monday January 10, 2022
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Funeral Service
11:00 AM
Tuesday January 11, 2022
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Tuesday January 11, 2022
Forsyth Cemetery
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Share
Connie Brown says
Linda and family,
I am as shocked today as when you called me yesterday, I am sooo sorry for your loss. Hold tight to your memories of Montana with Earnie. There is laughter along with the tears. God Bless You My Friend.
Deb Hunking says
Linda,
I am so sad to hear about Earnie. He was my favorite. I thought so much of him. When I first met him I was a little intimidated by him, I’ll admit, but the more I got to know him the sweeter he became. I miss the hugs that I got from him and you when you two came into Walmart. He was a joy to know. My thoughts and love are with you, Linda, in your time of loss and grief.
Chelsey Teeters says
Oh Miss Linda my heart just breaks for you. Earnie was a great man and will be missed dearly. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
marcus belgarde says
Earnie always bought potatoes from my grandparents i will miss him so sorry for your loss Linda.
Jessica Hewitt says
I will never forget Ernie. When I worked at Fitzgerald’s, he would always come visit. He will be missed by many!
Janet & Rachel Stanhope says
Linda and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Ernie was one of a kind and will be missed. We send all our prayers to you and yours in this very difficult time.
Collene Hill says
Linda: What a shock. We have known Ernie for years, such a sweetheart. He will be truly missed. I’m here when you need to talk, just give me a call anytime.
Rita FitzGerald says
Linda,
Well, Ernie can sit with Eunice in the booth drinking sugar with a little coffee! His wit was amazing and he will be missed! What will the Quigley be without him? Our prayers are with you!
Love,
Rita, Bilk, and Jordan
Rita FitzGerald says
Linda,
Well, Ernie can sit with Eunice in the booth drinking sugar with a little coffee! His wit was amazing and he will be missed! What will the Quigley be without him? Our prayers are with you!
Love,
Rita, Bill and Jordan
Laurie Lelm says
Linda and family,
I was shocked when I read this. Earnie was a good friend. I am so sorry for your loss, and you are in my prayers. He was such a caring man. He genuinely cared for his friends and family. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
Laurie Lelm
Bobbi Vannattan says
to all of ernies family and friends,
earnie was a riot, i have known him since i was a kid and his daughter mellisa and my sister nova were great friends growing up. earnie has been a great friend to my family over the years, and we enjoyed all of his stories, jokes and visits. linda is a wonderful and amazing woman and i am so glad that she married earnie.
earnie was one to call and check on friends and family daily, or more. his jokes and laughter have really been a blessing to those that he cared about. i know that his absence will be felt by many and we will morn his loss, however his amazing friendship full of laughs comfort us.
Linda and family,
I was so very sad to hear of earnies passing. I pray that you find comfort during this very sad time in all of the stories that will be shared over the coming days.
love and hugs
bobbi vannattan & family
Brenda Clevenger says
This is a sad day to know that Earnest has passed away. I have known him for many years. I am glad that I got to talk to him recently. I will remember him always.
Dottie Cornett says
Earnest also has a biological brother, James Samuel Cornett, sister-in-law, Luetta Cornett, niece, Dottie Cornett, nephew, Justin Cornett of Lenoir City, TN. He has four half siblings: Mickey Cornett Allison (deceased), of Lenoir City, TN, Linda Strange, Glenn Strange and Gary Justice (deceased), from Ohio.
I share my condolences on behalf of my family and know that my father will miss Earnest. We are saddened to hear of his passing. Even though Earnest left the area to spread his wings and my father stayed and cared for their father, they still managed to maintain a relationship. Distance can never take away a lifetime of memories shared.
Earnest was always telling a joke or a funny story. I knew his first wife Jackie from when they were married. I met Val (his second wife) several times when Earnest and she would come to Tennessee. He spoke as if he thought the sun rose and set in her. He thought highly of her children as well. I’m not surprised he is being buried beside her.
Lynelle Tompkins says
You could always count on Ernie to stir things up. I always admired Linda’s ability to put up with him. And I told him that she was a Saint and he agreed. He was “one of a kind”.
Amber Nielson says
Linda and family, my deepest sympathy is with you during this difficult time. Ernie was such a hoot. He will be dearly missed.
Sylvia H Percy says
Linda, I was so shocked to see your comment on facebook about Earnie’s passing. I am crying as I write this, and I am so sorry for your loss of your darling husband and best friend. I have known you both since we were in 5th grade when we moved to Eaton’s. You are in my prayers. Love, Sylvia
Tina webb says
I will miss his talks. He was always funny. Remember him grab a gun off. the porch one day and when shooting a black bird. Scared the crap out of me. Condolences to the family. He will be greatly missed. May he ride High in the sky
Frances M Hearn says
Linda, Earnie will be remembered in the hearts of everyone, especially mine and Brian’s. Who can we turn to with questions about our rifles and who will fix them for us! I have never met a person quite like Earnie. We will be forever grateful to him for opening his home to us when we needed a place to stay when we came to Montana. When we met you after you two married, I knew Earnie had chosen well and through the years you have been good for him. We lost a great friend who will never be forgotten. May he rest peacefully. God bless you Linda.
Charlie DeCock says
Darn it Linda I was just thinking of paying a visit and checking on you two to see how things were going and what you were thinking about our Winter so far. Sure hated to get the news but we both know he is in a much better place and out of his misery! Ernie was always fun to visit with. From gunsmithing to haying to trucking, etc. etc he helped out lots!
Please stop by any time and you will be in our prayers.
Josephine Meidinger says
Linda
So sorry for your loss. Allows enjoyed visiting with you and Ernie.
Will keep you in my prayers
John Plucinski says
Linda
We will miss Ernie. He was definitely a one of a kind joker. He also had a sweet side even though he tried to maintain his gruffness outwardly.
Johnny will miss visiting with him and learning all about maintaining rifles and bullet loads. He had a very deep knowledge of guns.
He was lucky he found you again and found someone who could live with his practical joking. You both offset each other perfectly. Bless his heart and yours.
Johnny and Janice
Sylvia H Percy says
I watched the video of the funeral and the graveside service. I shed many tears for you, and you are still in my daily prayers. Love, Sylvia
Brenda Clevenger says
I just got thru watching it again. I am really sorry that he has passed . I am really glad i got to talk to him when i did. We knew each other many years ago when my ex husband Grady an I and Earnest and Jackie double dated before any of us got married and Earnest was living with Gradys parents . We have kept in contact all thru the years but I didn’t see him often.
DeDe Hause says
So sorry for your loss.