Vernon Obituary: Ernest Pearson, 81

Ernest Rogers "Ernie" Pearson, 81, passed away peacefully June 18, 2016 at his home in Tolland following a long illness.

He was the beloved husband of Sherry (Hoskins) Pearson, the loving father of Karen (Pearson) Williams, David Pearson, Jeffrey Pearson, Brian Pearson and his wife Kim, and the devoted stepfather of Matthew Westergard and his wife Sarah. He also leaves behind 10 grandchildren, Heather, Jay, Amy, Ana, Christina, David, Jonathan, Joshua, Hannah and Madelyn, and two great-grandchildren, Nolan and Carter, with Nolan's sibling due soon. All loved him dearly, and he treasured them all.

Born to Ernest and Beulah B. (Phillips) Pearson on June 5, 1935, Ernie grew up in West Barrington, RI, a short stroll from the waters of Narragansett Bay. His heart was ever on those waters, as he remained an avid boater and recreational fisherman out of Barrington until soon after his retirement in 2007.

Ernie had an upbeat, high-spirited, larger-than-life personality and was known throughout his church, work and social circles for his innate ability to command attention and make people literally laugh out loud. This latter attribute surely contributed to his success in marketing, sales and sales management. He concentrated his boundless energies in the printing-ink business, and he maintained contact through the years with many of the true friends he made while working for U.S. Printing Ink and other companies in that industry.

Ernie is also survived by his brother, Richard and his wife Connie, his nieces Debbie (Dufresne) Coelho and Kathleen Dufresne Bartlett, his nephews Stephen Pearson and Andrew Pearson, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn. He loved them all and the feeling was genuinely mutual. Among those closest to Ernie's heart were Roy Kuhns, Maureen LaPrad, Sherry's family members in the Midwest and Ernie's "partners in crime" in the Grumpy Old Men club at Rockville United Methodist Church.

Ernie's wake will be held Thursday, June 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Road (Route 83), Vernon. Funeral services will be held at the Rockville United Methodist Church, 142 Grove Street, Rockville, on Friday, June 24 at 4 p.m. A private burial service will follow Saturday in Barrington, RI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rockville United Methodist Church or to The Tolland Fire Department Inc., P. O. Box 827, Tolland, CT 06084.