Today, I lost my wonderful husband. Ernie was the most loving, sweetest, kindest, gentlest, honest, funniest and loved husband a wife could ever want. Ernie was born in Dallas, Texas, attended The University of Texas, and spent four years as a sergeant and Como Chief in the Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After the Army, he went to Texas Instruments as a Quality Control Manager for the Apollo Space Program. Ernie then became a Regional Manager in Georgia for multiple Lingerie Companies. That is where I met and married Ernie in 1974 at Fort McPherson. I loved all 49 years of fun, travel, building our log house, buying antiques, and listening to him talk in Donald Duck. We had an antique business for some 30 years that Ernie loved and excelled at. He refinished furniture both at home and in the antique business. Our love and faith were strong enough to survive the 2020 flood that filled our house with 6 feet of water and left us stranded on the porch to be saved by wonderful neighbors.
Ernie had a beautiful singing voice. He sang in church, had the lead in the Brigadoon and other musicals, sang to me in piano bars and blessed everyone with his songs and talent. He could croon with the best of them. Our wedding rings were inscribed with a
a song he sang to me…”There but for you go I.”
Ernie passed away at Magnolia Hills Assisted Living on February 6, 2024, surrounded by friends and family, all praying, singing hymns, and remembering the happy times. Ernie was raised in the Baptist Church and had a deep faith in God and went to Heaven in God’s loving embrace. My heartfelt thanks to the loving staff at Magnolia Hills, especially Leatha Johnson, Sandra Bales, Ranai Roisner, and all the other very special caregivers; Jamie and The Hospice Staff who devoted their special care; Dustin Barner and Libby Hall, who sat with Ernie and gave their special love and care to him.
Ernie is survived by his wife, Cecelia Pyles; son, Chris and Dondi Pyles; daughter, Kim and JohnEd Bradley; brother, Harold and Jeorginna; sister, Hazel Robertson; grandsons, Sterling Pyles and Cameron Pyles; granddaughter, Hannah Bradley; great-grandson, Theo Pyles; niece, Vicky Robertson and his two most loved dogs, Jake and Asher.
Ernie will be cremated, and a Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, with Ryland Fox and Chris Pyles conducting the service. Earnest (Ernie) Pyles. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM prior to the service, and the Inurnment will follow in the Yonah Memorial Gardens. Please join us to remember Ernie.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
