Ernest Kearce, 74, of Mystic, formerly of Tifton, died Monday, December 13, 2010, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2010, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. N. C. Spradley, Rev. Shelton Smith and Rev. Larry Dean will officiate with burial to follow in Turner Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Donnie Gilder, Dewight Harper, Bennett Hutto, Gabe Roberson, Danny Hutto and George Hutto will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Kearce was born on October 23, 1936 in Norman Park and was the son of Joe J. Kearce and Alice Keigan Kearce, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Ruby Cherry Kearce; and two sons, Gerald Dewayne Kearce and James Kearce. He was employed by Keeter’s Home Furnishings for 32 years, Tifton Aluminum for 10 years; and was currently employed as the manager of Phillips Seafood in Ocilla. He was a member of Morningside Baptist Church and a veteran of the United States Army in the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Kearce is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Hutto Kearce of Mystic; his four sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Ann Kearce of Enigma, Robby and Jane Hutto of Broxton, Rocky and Jan Hutto of Fitzgerald and Tom and Rita Hutto of Hazlehurst; two daughters and sons-in-law, Tilda and Ronnie Butts of Mystic and Cathy and Vance Ross of Ocilla; one sister, Jewell Hammon of Florida; three grandchildren, Chris Kearce, Brandon Kearce and Jessie Barnes; as well as several other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.