Ernest Charles Hart

Ernest Charles Hart, 80, of Vancleave, MS died on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010. We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family Chain is broken and nothing seems the same. As God calls us one by one, The Chain will link again. Our Chain broke when our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle, Ernest Charles Hart went to join our Heavenly Father. Ernest Charles Hart was born August 1, 1930 to Ernest Daniel and Mable Elizabeth Hart in Gulfport, MS. He moved with his family to d'Iberville in 1948 where he lived until he moved to Vancleave in 2007. He was the first son of five children, which included his brothers, Effort Eugene Hart and Edward Daniel Hart and his sisters, Myrtice Hart Carroll, and Doris Elizabeth Hart Scobbee. Ernest attended Biloxi Schools and graduated from Biloxi High in 1948. After school, Ernest started working for Southern Bell Telephone Company with his father in 1948. He retired from Bell South in 1983 after 35 years. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers. Ernest married the love of his life, Norma Jean Gilbert in 1950. To this union were born eight children: Daniel (Carolyn) Hart, Diane (Mike) Powell, Virginia (Daniel) Mullen, David (Wendy) Hart, Stephen (Janice) Hart, Wanda (Richard) Mullen, Michael Hart, and Lucile (Scott) Plaisance. Their eight children blesssed him with eighteen grandchildren: Ernest W. Hart, Angie Hart, Allie (Terry) Simons, Shelley (Jim) Graham, Christopher (Crystal) Powell, Eric (Brigitte) Mullen, Kevin (Kelli) Mullen, Travis Hart, Michelle Hart, Stephen (Rachel) Hart II, Lauren (Justin) May, Cydney (Mike) Webb, Cody Hart, Madison Corso, Reliance Hart, Teri Plaisance, Kali Plaisance, and Jami Plaisance. Their grandchildren in turn added to his joy with twelve great grandchildren: Mattox Hart, Sofia Hart, Layla Hart, Shelby Hart, Stevie Hart, Cody Stringer, Austin Stringer, Kaitlyn Wilson, Taylor Mullen, Lucus May, Alyssa Webb, and Kayla Webb. In addition to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, he is survived by his brother, Effort Eugene (Jo) Hart and his sister, Doris (Irwin) Scobbee as well as numerous nieces and nephews. After suffering from polio as a child, he regained the use of his limbs, and was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, first with his father, later with his sons and grandsons. He loved going fishing for mullet and provided the fish for many a fish fry. He was the catcher for two baseball teams, the CWA ball team and the Broadwater ball team. E. C., as he was known to many, was a wonderful handyman and built the first two homes in which his family lived. He willingly used his talents to help build Fellowship Lodge #630, Crossroads Baptist Church, several of his children's homes, as well as helped friends and extended family with many other building projects. Ernest has been in Boy Scouts since 1948, earning the rank of Eagle. He is a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. During his Scouting years, he was the Scoutmaster of Troop 226 and the first Cubmaster of Pack 226. He then became an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 212. He was presented with the Cross and Flame Religious Award for Adult Scout Leaders from the Methodist Church as well as the Pine Burr Award and the Arrow Head Award. He was delighted to see all four of his sons receive their Eagle rank as well as five of his grandsons. Ernest served many years as a Camp Manager of Camp Wilkes as well as serving as a Camp Trustee. He was very instrumental in building most of the new buildings at Camp Wilkes as well as rebuilding most after Hurrican Katrina. Ernest was dedicated to his Masonic affiliations starting with the Biloxi Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. He became a member of Magnolia Lodge #120, then helped build and became a charter member of Fellowship Lodge #630 serving two terms as Master of the Lodge. He became a member of the Eastern Star joining Ann Grayson Chapter #50 and served as Worthy Patron of that Chapter. When Fellowship Chapter #388 was formed, he became a charter member and served as its first Worthy Patron with his wife. He later served as his mother-in-law's Worthy Patron as well as serving as Worthy Patron with three of his daughters. In total he served 13 terms as Worthy Patron. In April of 2009, he was selected to serve as Grand Chapter Dad for the Grand Chapter of Mississppi. He also served as Grand Representative to Maine. In 1963, Ernest was the Lion's Club's Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He also served as President of the d'Iberville Elementary PTA when his children were in school. He served as a member of the first election commission committee for the city of 'Iberville. Ernest was a member of Heritage United Methodist Church and Crossroads Baptist Church. Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Daniel Hart and Mable Elizabeth Hart, a brother, Edward Daniel Hart, a sister, Myrtice Carroll, son-in-law, Miles Scott Plaisance, and great grandsons, Ethan and Evan Powell and Sidney Hart. Serving as pall bearers will be his sons, Daniel, David, Stephen, and Michael, as well as his sons-in-law, Mike Powell and Daniel Mullen. Honorary pallbearers are his grandsons, Ernest W. Hart, Christopher Powell, Eric Mullen, Kevin Mullen, Travis Hart, Stephen Hart II, and Cody Hart. Visitation will be Sunday, October 17, 2010 at Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home on Howard Ave. in Biloxi from 6-9 P.M. Funeral services will be at Heritage United Methodist Church on Popps Ferry Rd in d'Iberville on Monday, October 18, 2010 with visitation from 9-10 a.m. with Eastern Star services at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service. Burial will be in Biloxi City Cemetery with Masonic Gravesite services. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to Camp Wilkes Inc., P. O. Box 69, Biloxi, MS 39531, Boy Scout Troop 212, 2109 Camp Wilkes Rd., Biloxi, MS 39532, or the Joppa Temple Transportation Fund, 13280 Hwy 67, Biloxi, MS 39532. The family would like to thank Gloria, Mammie, Emily, and Ginger and the staff of SAADS Health Care and Dr. Aultman and staff for the wonderful care they gave our loved one.