Mr. Kenneth Stafford
May 24, 1929 — April 8, 2013
Ernest Kenneth Stafford, aka Ernie, Kaleb, Ken, Sawbriar, was born at home in Fisk, Alabama on May 24th, 1929 to William Arthur and Laura Miranda Patterson Stafford. Ernie lost his mother at a young age and became the responsibility of his older sisters, his step-mother Mrs. Elders, and was sometimes farmed out to relatives until he and two buddies ran away to join the U.S. Navy at the last years of WWII. Later, Ernie joined the Air Force and was stationed in Savannah, Georgia where he met and married Marian Elizabeth Bragg in 1952. When his enlistment was up, Ernie tried civilian life, working for Hughes Aircraft in Wichita Falls, Texas, but decided to re-enlist and make the Air Force a career.
Two daughters were born to this marriage; Susan Lynne in 1959 and Victoria Marinda (Mindy) in 1961. Ernie retired from active duty as a Master Sergeant in 1967, but was called back from the reserves in 1968 for one more year. Ernie served his country through three wars; WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam
War.
The family settled in Oakridge, Oregon where Ernie went to work for the Forest Service and obtained an Associate Degree in Forestry. Ernie later transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in Montana building dams, cruising timber and supervising the Youth Conservation Corps before retiring for good and returning to Oakridge. Ernie lost his wife of 35 years in 1988 and moved to Hamilton, Montana where he built a house on the land he and Marian had bought in 1959. Although he had been brought up in the Methodist church and always encouraged his family to attend, he joined the Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton and became active in bible study, served on the church board, and helped in the nursery during church services. He made some dear friends through his church. Ernie was also active in the American Legion and attained the rank of 32nd degree Mason. He was also a long-time member of the Elks Lodge. Ernie moved to Alabama to help his sisters and stayed about 5 years during which time he got to know and love a new generation of Staffords.
Ernie made his final move to Sidney, Montana in October 2012 when he needed help to live on his own. Ernie passed away on April 8th, 2013 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings, Montana after a brief illness.
Ernie was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; his parents William Arthur and Laura Miranda; his brothers Orville and Arthur Jr. (George); sisters Annie Helms and Kathleen Stewart; niece Judy Gregg, and nephews Steve Hill, Greg Warren and Johnny Spray. He is survived by his daughters Sue (Colin) Gartner of Sidney, MT and Mindy (Jon) Hermon of Eagle River, AK; brother W.A.(Dub) of Smyrna, DE; sisters Mauvareen Hill Gregory of Hopkinsville, KY and Avanell Spray of Hazel Green, AL; grandchildren Alexandra Hermon, Mathias Hermon, Marianne Gartner and Chris Gartner; nephews Jerry(Mack), Stanley, Roger, Randall and Billy Stafford, Larry Stewart, Shannon Spray and Ronnie Howell; nieces Patsy Warren, Sherry Stafford, Laura Enck, Pamela Stutz, Theresa Custer, Gaye McGrath and Debbie Perry; and many dear great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Two daughters were born to this marriage; Susan Lynne in 1959 and Victoria Marinda (Mindy) in 1961. Ernie retired from active duty as a Master Sergeant in 1967, but was called back from the reserves in 1968 for one more year. Ernie served his country through three wars; WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam
War.
The family settled in Oakridge, Oregon where Ernie went to work for the Forest Service and obtained an Associate Degree in Forestry. Ernie later transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in Montana building dams, cruising timber and supervising the Youth Conservation Corps before retiring for good and returning to Oakridge. Ernie lost his wife of 35 years in 1988 and moved to Hamilton, Montana where he built a house on the land he and Marian had bought in 1959. Although he had been brought up in the Methodist church and always encouraged his family to attend, he joined the Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton and became active in bible study, served on the church board, and helped in the nursery during church services. He made some dear friends through his church. Ernie was also active in the American Legion and attained the rank of 32nd degree Mason. He was also a long-time member of the Elks Lodge. Ernie moved to Alabama to help his sisters and stayed about 5 years during which time he got to know and love a new generation of Staffords.
Ernie made his final move to Sidney, Montana in October 2012 when he needed help to live on his own. Ernie passed away on April 8th, 2013 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings, Montana after a brief illness.
Ernie was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; his parents William Arthur and Laura Miranda; his brothers Orville and Arthur Jr. (George); sisters Annie Helms and Kathleen Stewart; niece Judy Gregg, and nephews Steve Hill, Greg Warren and Johnny Spray. He is survived by his daughters Sue (Colin) Gartner of Sidney, MT and Mindy (Jon) Hermon of Eagle River, AK; brother W.A.(Dub) of Smyrna, DE; sisters Mauvareen Hill Gregory of Hopkinsville, KY and Avanell Spray of Hazel Green, AL; grandchildren Alexandra Hermon, Mathias Hermon, Marianne Gartner and Chris Gartner; nephews Jerry(Mack), Stanley, Roger, Randall and Billy Stafford, Larry Stewart, Shannon Spray and Ronnie Howell; nieces Patsy Warren, Sherry Stafford, Laura Enck, Pamela Stutz, Theresa Custer, Gaye McGrath and Debbie Perry; and many dear great and great-great nieces and nephews.
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