Send With Love
Friday, January 6, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
Clayton Ernest “Ernie” Willingham of Dickinson passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023, at the age of 71. He was one of 4 children born in Longview, Texas on April 9, 1951, to Clayton and Mary Willingham.
He is preceded in death by his parents Mary and Clayton Willingham, Brothers Robert and Randall Willingham, stepson Michael Dick, grandson Coby Dick, and great grandson Kolt Jaxson Barton.
Ernie is survived by his wife of 18 years, Sharon Willingham, Son Arron Willingham and wife Angela, Daughters Mandy Thomas and husband Shane, Lanette Harris and husband Scott. He is also survived by his grandchildren Kelsey Thomas, Hunter Thomas, Brennan Harris, Briggs Harris, Keith & Chelsi Barton, Cody & Neil Golden and Great Grandchildren Nolan Barton and Adrian Pina. His sister Cathy Barta and family as well as numerous extended family members and friends including special friends Annette, Cory, Clayton, and George Clark.
Pallbearers for the service will be Greg Barron, Corey Clark, Keith Barton, Hunter Thomas, Adrian Pina and Brennan Harris. Honorary pallbearers will be Briggs Harris and Nolan Barton.
Ernie was born in Longview and raised in Lubbock and always held true to his East Texas roots like one of his favorite comedians Rodney Carrington. He moved to the Texas gulf coast to start a family and never left. In his early years here, he served as a volunteer Police Officer for La Marque, TX and was a motorcycle mechanic at LaMarque Honda. This fueled his passion for motorcycles, and he remained a mechanic until the late '80's before he went to work for TCR in 1975 as an operator, retiring from Valero after 30 years of service. Ernie was a member of Texas City Masonic Lodge #1118 AFAM and a member of St. Georges’ Episcopal Church. In later years Ernie found love again when he married Sharon in 2004 and she became one of the most important loves in his life. In more recent years he spent his time enjoying all his grandchildren’s events including baseball, volleyball, soccer and FFA. Always up for a good laugh, Ernie enjoyed attending comedy shows like Bill Engvall, Rodney Carrington, or Jeff Dunham with his family. Family was always at the core of Ernie’s big heart, and he loved to attend his son Arron’s delicious annual crawfish bash with his daughters Mandy, Lanette, Angi and all the family and friends. Even when his health declined, he still attended family events and attended church with his wife. Ernie was known in the family for his analytical mind and would often challenge family members in their craft by asking the tough technical questions about how something worked. Recently, his patriotism was on display for Making America Great Again and would make sure that family members had their own Trump gear. While our family hurts right now, we hope that each person reading this takes the time to make sure the people that are important to you know how much you care for them and may many great memories be in your future.
Visitation will be held 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2023 at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City. A funeral will be held at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 510 13th Ave N, Texas City, TX at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2023 with burial at Grace Memorial Cemetery in Hitchcock, TX. There will be a luncheon after the burial at Texas City Masonic Lodge #1118 AFAM.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Texas City and or Texas City Masonic Lodge #1118 AFAM .
Friday, January 6, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Emken-Linton Funeral Home
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
St. George's Episcopal Church
Visits: 30
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