Verona--John Earnest, 67, died Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Magnolia Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. He was born August 31, 1944 in Itawamba County to Eulus and Ethel Earnest. He graduated from Itawamba Agricultural High School and was a self-employed machinist, owning and operating Earnest Machine Shop for many years. He was a longtime member of Verona First Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing, tinkering with old guns, coin collecting and playing his guitar for friends and family. He loved spending time with his family and his dog, Abbee.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Daivd Hamilton and Bro. Terry Ledbetter officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife,, Rebecca "Becky" Earnest of Verona; one son, Todd Ryan Earnest (Michelle) of Mantachie; one sister, Ann Parsons of Eureka, Calif.; three brothers, Gaddis Earnest (Erica) of Golden, Bobby Earnest (Betty) of Tupelo and Gary Earnest (Janet) of Plantersville; three grandchildren, Taylor Earnest, Katelyn Earnest and Blake Phillips; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter Tracie Earnest; one brother Leberon Earnest and his mother-in-law, Pernie Andrews.

Pallbearers will be Keith Earnest, Derrick Earnest, Mark Young, Billy W. Riley, James Kuhn and Tommy Dale Holcomb.

Memorials may be made to the Tracie Earnest Memorial Fund at BancorpSouth.