Dr. Ernest J. Erickson

Dr. Ernest Jennings Erickson, 77, of Clifton passed away Saturday, August 8, 2020, at Lutheran Sunset Ministries. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Clifton Church of Christ with Pastor Drew Ritchie officiating. Burial will follow at Clifton Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Monday, August 10, 2020, at Clifton Funeral Home. Social distancing will be practiced and facial coverings will be strongly encouraged.   

Dr. Ernest Jennings Erickson was born on October 9, 1942, to John Ernest Erickson and Stella Mae Graves Erickson.  They resided on a farm in the Harmony Community near Norse.  He was the oldest of three children–sister Marilyn and brother Bernard.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing while living on the farm but also had to work hard.

Ernest played football for the Clifton High School Cubs.  He received a football scholarship to Baylor University where he played four years.  After leaving Baylor, he went to Baylor Dental School in Dallas, graduating in 1969.

He joined the U. S. Air Force shortly after and was stationed at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio.  He married Elizabeth Ann Mackie of Waco on October 25, 1969.  They lived in San Antonio for two years while he was in the service and another year when he worked as an associate in a private dental practice.  Their daughter Lisa was born in 1971 while they were still in San Antonio.

In 1972 Ernest set up his private dental practice in Clifton, working for over thirty years.  Their son David was born in 1975.

Ernest and Ann enjoyed traveling and went on a number of tours and cruises.  He was a member of the Church of Christ where he served as a deacon and later as an elder.  A highlight after retiring was a mission trip to Haiti where he did dentistry–mostly extractions–for poor Haitians lined up for the procedure.

Ernest was diagnosed with vascular Parkinsonism a few years ago.  He had been a resident of the Sunset Home for about a year and a half.  Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, in-person visits were shut down in March 2020.

He is survived by his wife, Ann of almost fifty-one years; daughter, Lisa Martin and husband Matt Martin; son, David Erickson and wife Karra Erickson; brother, Bernard Erickson; sister-in-law, Bonnie Erickson; sister, Marilyn Massey and brother-in-law Ronnie Massey; five grandchildren–Meagan, Ryan and wife, Melanie, Emily, Katelyn, and Ethan; and five great-grandchildren–Bradley, Makayla, Brayden, Dawson, and Jennings.

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