Carey Maurice Earnest, 70, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Rodney Brown officiating. Mr. Earnest will be laid to rest at Vickers Church Cemetery in Berrien County. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Mark Guess, Marvin Guess, Jennifer Jones, Mickey Halstead, Lee Griffin and Ricky Paulk will serve as pallbearers.
Born September 24, 1956, in Donalsonville, Georgia. Mr. Earnest was the son of the late Jefferson Davis Earnest and Novella Kelley Earnest. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, William “Red” Davis Earnest; and a brother-in-law, John Rudolph Paxson. Before retiring, he worked as a certified nursing assistant most of his life. He loved to fish and loved eating fish. He loved his family, loved to joke, loved caring for people and, above all, he loved his Lord and Savior most of all.
Left behind to cherish his memory is his wife, Judy Guess Earnest of Tifton; one sister, Eunice “Louise” Earnest Paxson; his sisters-in-law, Sharon Earnest, Ann Griffin (Calvin), Elaine Paulk (Ricky) and Joyce Guess; his brothers-in-law, Emory Guess (Linda) and Roger Guess; special cousins, Ronald and June Halstead and several other cousins; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.