Ernie Bennett – Celebration of Life and Memorial Service Notes
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we DO NOT GIVE UP.” Galatians 6:9
Cassie Bennett Norman (daughter)
What do I say about the man that was everything? As I reflected and remembered this week, I kept thinking about Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.
Dad didn’t just take us hunting, he trained us to hunt
Dad always said – you can do the same things with girls that you can boys.
I recently received an email from Dad titled – “how daughters make their dad’s proud”. It was a video of a young girl field stripping an AR-15 and reassembling it in less than 1 minute…Dad woulda been proud.
He didn’t just take us fishing, he trained us to fish
We had to bait our own hooks, reel in what we caught, clean and eat our catch.
He didn’t just take us shooting, he trained us to handle a gun and all the rights, and all the responsibilities and all the freedoms that accompany it.
I am humbled by the lyrics of the Elton John song – My Father’s Gun:
From this day on, I own my father’s gun
From this day on, until I die, I’ll wear my father’s gun
He didn’t just give us keys to a truck, he trained us to maintain it.
Not only did we learn to change a tire and the oil, he made me change the sparkplugs in the Blazer. I kept saying, why don’t you just do it? He told me – because I know how to do it and now so do you. Deep down I knew it was true. I also knew if the truck didn’t run, neither did I.
He trained us
to “think BIG”
to set, follow and achieve goals
to be confident and independent
to know we can do anything in life that we desire
He didn’t just take us to church, Christ was in our home.
Our home was open to anyone and everyone anytime. We never had to ask if we could have friends over – all were welcome. Never knowing how many of his “girls” had spent the night, Dad learned to drive himself to church Sunday mornings if he wanted to get there on time.
Dad told me just two weeks ago – however “this thing” turns out, I am at peace with it. This peace can only be found in knowing Jesus Christ personally.
Dad led by example. And in doing so, he trained us how to be a devoted spouse, an encouraging parent and a proud grandparent. He faced life with enthusiasm, strength and dignity. He enjoyed people and he enjoyed life.
A proud veteran, husband, father and papaw
A sportsman other sportsmen respected
A salesman people trusted
A friend everyone desires
A fan everyone needs
A father every child deserves
A friend of Dad’s sent him an email from a fellow classmate that stated:
We are better adults for having had Ernie as a friend when we were children.
I too am a better adult for having had him in my life when I was a child.
What a teacher. What an amazing blessing. What a legacy to pass on.
Erin Bennett Fox (daughter)
For the past week, I’ve been trying to find the words to describe how special my Dad was; what an amazing man and inspiring father he was. Words to describe how much I love him, but those words don’t exist. The simple words I could string together wouldn’t do justice to a man who lived his life with no regrets. He had many successes, few failures and he easily made friends with everyone he met. I had the privilege of calling this man my Dad. He was half my identity, my encourager, my hero, and my friend.
There’s a quote that says, “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it.” Dad lived his life as an example to us. Every memory and every day that I spent with him helped mold me into the person I am today. He and Mom spoiled us with attention and love, with encouragement and pride. He was our biggest fan no matter what we were doing.
Some of my favorite times were when Dad and I would sit outside and talk and talk about anything and everything. A lot of times I was wanting his advice on something and he would say something that would make me stop and think. That was his way. He wouldn’t necessarily tell us what we should do, but he would help guide us so we could make our own decisions. He taught us to be confident and to follow our dreams.
Anytime I think of Dad, I think “Master of the Outdoors.” I have never known someone who just knew where the fish would be, what bait to use, where to sit in a dove field to get all the birds, and exactly how far to lead a bird or sporting clay in the sky before squeezing the trigger. Dad taught Cassie and I how to hunt and fish and he would get more excited than we would when we made a good shot or hooked a big one. His smile would take over his face and it was contagious.
There are no words to describe how much I’m going to miss him but I know I’ll see him again someday…and when I do, I know he’ll have a dance saved for me and a huge hug and kiss! What a great reunion that will be!
Dad would always say, “Who loves you Baby?”
You do, Dad. You do.
Charlie Bennett (Brother):
When Ernie and I were growing up he was always a lot bigger than me because he was four years older. As most brothers did, he would pick on me and knock me around, just to make me mad. I told him that one day I am going to be bigger than you and I’m going to kick your butt. The problem was… by the time I was bigger than him, he was my best friend and had no desire to kick his butt (even I could have – he was a pretty tough guy for his size.)
Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s — we were pushing every envelope we could – boy that was fun! I remember listening to Elvis’s Jailhouse rock on a 45 with Ernie like it was yesterday. Then, the trombone … have you ever lived with someone in a small house that has to practice his trombone everyday? It drove me to play the guitar!
Because of our Dads love of hunting and fishing, Ernie and I did a lot together experiencing the great outdoors with him… that gave us a great appreciation and respect for the environment and the world around us. We went fishing in the Keys every summer, we waded up and down the Saint john’s, we basically grew up in the tin can (dads aluminum boat) , which Ernie still has — we hunted dove, duck, quail, turkeys, squirrels, pigs, deer and anything else that moved (as long as we cleaned and ate it – Max’s rule!! )
My grandparents owned a farm in North Carolina where Ernie and I worked every summer in tobacco, corn, fed the pigs and cows and busted watermelons against the barn that they now charge $10.00 a piece for. It was the hardest work we had ever done, but it left us with a strong work ethic, to say yes maam no maam, say the blessing before every meal which taught us good moral and ethical values. You can take the boys out of the country, but you can take the country out of the boys.
After joining the Naval Air during the Vietnam War his two stints were in San Diego and Andros Island in the Bahamas where he was a member of the surf team – it was tough, but he made it through…..
The first car I had was a 63 VW bus that Ernie had before being shipped off to the war and we customized the van with curtains, made by my grandmother, a homemade bed — surfing pictures plastered all over, surf racks, an 8 track tape player. This bad boy had a whopping 33 horsepower that barely made it over the Intercoastal Bridge, and had the name “Puddle Jumper” on the front of the van.
In closing,
I know that the thing Ernie was most proud of was his family. You could not ask for two better daughters which is a true testament to both Ernie and Kathy….. One author asks? Did I live……Did I love …… and did I matter? I think we can see from this gathering that Ernie accomplished all of these and can rest in peace knowing that he did.
Love ya, Bro
Dave Bennett Jr.
Cousin to Ernie by formalities, brother by heart.
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts”……by Marcus Aurelius
It’s no wonder Ernie was so happy. Ernie was perhaps the most positive person I ever knew.
When you look at all of the pictures in the slideshow he was always grinning form ear to ear.
His foo manchu mustache looked enormous. The reason was simple, the grin beneath was larger than life.
But his smile was not just on his face. It was in his heart. It was what powered his soul.
Ernie was a recruiter of happiness. His pride and confidence powered through in all situations.
If you ever missed Ernie when you called him on his cell phone you were still invigorated by his cheerful soul….”HIIIIIIII…. THIS IS ERNIE!”.
Albert Einstein once said, “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.”
It was Ernie’s attitude that powered is effervescent character.
Ernie and I shared many great times together. Hunting the Chesapeake Bay for Greater Canadian Geese, El Campo Texas hunting snow geese, Wagram North Carolina hunting white winged dove, countless days hunting ducks in Guana River, Marsh Hen hunting in the coastal waters of St. Augustine, fishing in the St. Johns river and the offshore waters of the Florida Coast.
Let us be reminded here today what the great author Mark Twain once wrote, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time”
For you, Kathy, find peace in knowing however long the night the dawn will surely break.
May peace be with you…and with all of us.
Robert Warner (Nephew-in-law)
True friendship isn’t seen with the eyes, it is felt with the heart.
When there is trust, understanding, loyalty, and sharing.
True friendship is a rare feeling, but when it is found
It has profound impact on our well-being, strength, and character.
True friendship does not need elaborate gifts,
Or spectacular events in order to be valuable or valued.
To ensure long-lasting quality and satisfaction,
True friendship only needs a few key ingredients:
Undying loyalty, unmatched understanding, unsurpassed trust,
Deep and soulful secrets, and endless sharing.
These ingredients, mixed with personality and a sense of humor,
Can make a friendship last a lifetime!
This is just a thank you, my friend, for all the wonderful and colorful, special ingredients you’ve brought to my life. You will be MISSED
Ernie Bennett
Friend, Mentor, Family Man, Father, Husband, Role Model,
My Friend!!!!!!!!!
“Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.”
Mentor: – counselor, guide, tutor, teacher, guru, supporter, adviser
Ernie wasn’t just a wise mentor to me, he was also, in so many ways a father figure.
Family man: “A man cannot leave a better legacy to the world than a well-educated family.”
Watching him raise his family I learned, raise your children with a gentle hand. Let them be who they are and nurture them and you never know what you get.
Cassie and Erin two amazing Girls, May I be so lucky.
Husband: A husband is a male participant in a marriage. Think about this.
This is what I leaned Ernie and Kathy marriage was a partnership, balance, loving, caring, and understanding this is what I have practice and live by, not think about the bad time but more in what I have in my marriage the good time, the fun time, the joyful time and the most of all, why I married my wife in the first place LOVE!!!!!!! They had this.
Role Model: somebody to be copied: a worthy person who is a good example for other people
Two great Quotes
“The most important single influence in the life of a person is another person … who is worthy of emulation.”
“Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime; and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.”
What I learned from Ernie, life is hard enough so enjoy the simple thing and the rest will fall into places.
Erin Bennett- Friend, Mentor, Family Man, Father, Husband, Role Model,
He will be MISSED not by me only, but by many of us.
‘Til we meet again.
Friend.
Rev. Tim Martin (First Baptist Church of Middleburg)
- I met Ernie Bennett in the Spring of 1994 right here in this church
- I was building a house in MB my family and I were moving from the OP area
- We visited some other churches but when walked into the front door of this church we were greeted by this dapper looking man in his 50’s dressed to the 9’s
- He smiled this big smile, warmly greeting us and what really impressed me was that he remembered our names the next Sunday [all three of us]
- That’s in and of itself was amazing according to Kathy
- Ernie Bennett and I have been good friends ever since
- We have hunted and fished together several times, but more importantly we had some great conversations
- Conversations about our families, jobs and sports but we always, always came to a point where we talked about the Lord
- I found out that Ernie and I had come to know the Lord at the same age, 14 years old
- We shared together stories of how we had seen the hand of Jesus in our individual lives growing up
- But it was just in the last couple of years that Ernie and I grew closer and he would just show up at my office and just want to chat
- He shared that he loved my wife and I for what he said we meant to his family and especially his girls
- Ernie shared how much First Baptist Middleburg meant to him and his family
- And I have to admit he got a bit teary when he spoke of Cassie and Erin and their relationship with the Lord. How he loved his girls
- And Kathy, when Ernie spoke of you it was never ‘I’ it was always ‘we’
- He considered you and he inseparable, his partner and his lifelong soul mate
- How he loved his family
- He loved hunting and fishing with all of you
- One particular hunt I was on with Ernie showed his true character and how his concern was for others
**Dove Hunting Story**
- That’s was Ernie Bennett in a nutshell
- He would deflect questions about him and want to know about your family. What was going on with Patrick
- When Ernie got sick just a short couple of years ago I was in his hospital room in Gainesville
- We were chatting and I recall he looked right at me and said you know this ain’t good
- I acknowledged that but in the typical Ernie Bennett fashion, the look on his face changed and I remember just as if it was yesterday, he smiled big and said ‘We’re fixin to kick this pig”.
- He never imagined that I knew what movie that line came from and we both admitted to being ‘closet’ Kelsey Grammar fans
- We both laughed and cried that day
- But I shared a scripture with Ernie that has brought me comfort and encouragement over the years
- It is found in the book of Isaiah in the 43rd chapter beginning in v1. God is dealing here with His people and calming their fears. He says
- “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom.
- And In v4, Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you
- The passage of scripture became something Ernie and I would refer to often
- During his various times of treatment when I would speak with him I would ask, How you doin?
- He would reply ‘I’ve not been burned and I’ve not drowned’ referring to that scripture
- I am so grateful because I believe it brought him comfort
- One of the last times I spoke to Ernie I asked if I could come over and he was not having a great day so we just chatted on the phone
- He told me, again in an effort to comfort me he said ‘I ain’t knocking on that pearly gate yet.” Then he paused, chuckled and said ‘But when I do I sure hope they let me in’.
- It made me think of a poem I heard years ago, but I didn’t have a chance to share this with Ernie before he went home, so I want to close with it today….
- I believe is so fitting because it was one of the last things I heard him say
- It is simply titled, “Beyond the Gate”.
- Someone new has entered
our eternal home above.
The heavenly gate has opened wide
to welcome the one you love.
We cannot help the tears that fall-
our hearts need time to grieve
when earthly life has ended
and a loved one has to leave.
Yet even in the saddest time,
we know our Savior lives,
and we can trust completely
in the promise that he gives.
That glad reunion with the Lord,
our loved ones often wait
to welcome us in joy
with no more tears
beyond that special gate!
