Earnestine Strong
April 7, 1944 - May 14, 2009
Obituary
Earnestine Strong, age 65, of Renton WA died on May 14th, 2009 of natural causes at the Kindred Hospital in North Seattle. Known as Earni to her friends, she retired from Qwest Telecommunications in 2001, where she served in various positions, her last being a manager in the Computer Center in Bellevue WA. Earni was active in her community where she worked with youth of the Sweet Mahogany Drill Team and served others by participating in campaigns that benefited the United Way.
Earnestine was born from the union of Odie and James Gowans on April 7, 1944 in Corsicana, Texas. The eldest of 6, she moved with her family from Texas to Washington State in 1955. She graduated from Garfield High school in 1962 and took some college courses.
September 15th, 1973 she married Joseph Strong of Seattle WA. They lived in South Seattle and Renton. They raised 3 daughters as well as 2 granddaughters.
Earni loved to listening to music, dancing, traveling, bowling and meeting new people. She had an interest in life and seeing new things that was contagious. She was known as someone who was welcoming to everyone who crossed her path. She had an open heart and open mind which she shared with everyone.
Earni is survived by her husband Joseph Strong of Renton WA, her daughters: Cheri Brooks, Nikki Brooks, Brandi Simmons Darrell, her grandchildren: Kiara and Dennise Chambers, Jahan Brooks, Kobi and Mekhi Simmons, her mother Odie Payne Oliver, her brothers: Larry Crawford Teresa, Robert Parker, Elwood Evans and Curtis Crawford Madeline, her nieces and great nephews and a host of chosen family members and a multitude of friends.
She was preceded in death by her father James Gowans April 8, 2009 and her sister Arreva Evans August 9, 1994.
Services will be held on Thursday May 21st, 2009 at 11:00 am at New Hope Baptist Church, located at 120 21st Ave, Seattle WA 98122. Peaceful visits and good-byes for Earni will be held at Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, located at 1732 Broadway in Seattle WA on Wednesday May 20th from 1:00p to 5:00p. Burial will be at Sunset Hills Memorial Park located at 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue WA 98007.
The family would like to thank all of those individuals and groups that helped make this time of grief more bearable.
Our condolences to the family of
Earnestine Strong. We are deeply
sadden by the loss of such a beautiful person. She will truly be
missed.
Love
Your Yakima Family
My heart goes out to you and your family. Earni was a wonderful woman and will really be missed.
Earnestine was truly a special woman and will be missed greatly. I will always remember her loving spirit and smiling face. Brandi, Joseph and to the rest of the family, please take care. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Nikki,
The memories of your Mom will warm your heart. You and your family are in my prayers.
Agnes Lim
Nikki so sorry to hear about your loss of your mother, she is with god and god is with you my deepest sympathy
Myron
Nikki & family, we are thinking of you Sis. May your heart & soul find peace & comfort & may the blessings of Gods love be upon you & your family. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, II Cor 5:8. We love you…
Our deepest prayers are with the entire family during this time of sorrow. We will miss Earni very much as she was a role model in our lives as well as our children. She was there through many times when we needed a friend to talk to. God bless you Joseph, Nikki, Cherie,Brandi and grandchildren.
We love you all,
Bobby,Denise,Tracy and Terrell Brown
I am so sorry for your lost. I loved my God mother very much. I am going to miss her dearly. My prayers are with you guys in your time of need.
Remember she will always be with you!
DeQuenna, Kimijah, Takeysha, Michelle, Nijayah, Maleeya, and Jordyn King
On the road to heaven, God and his people are your companions. May peace be with you. Nikki, you and your family are in my prayers.
I write this to my mommy. I want to let you know that I love you and will totally MISS YOU. Thank you for all that you did for me. We will miss you, I will see you real soon one day
You will truly be missed!
XOXO Jazz
Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal.
Cherish the memories of your mom and grandmother.
May God Bless you in your time of sorrow.
Cathy & Meagan
May God’s everlasting arms of blesings be upon her husband, daugthters, family members and close friends. Her loving spirit towards me will never be forgotten. I thanks God for letting me cross her path on this journey of life.
I am sorry that I will be unable to attend the service. I needed to let you know that Earni was always a fun person to be around and was very accepting of all. We had many a laugh at work and lunch. Her laugh will be missed.
Sincerely,
Brooke Townsend
You all have my most heartfelt condolences in this difficult time.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Ernie was fun, strong and a beautiful lady. I enjoyed our time together when my daughter was in the Drill Team. May you find strength in knowing she was loved
Joseph, Cheri, Nikki and Brandi,
My prayers are with you all! I have so many fun memories growing up and playing at your house. Where did the time go.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
What a beautiful and strong woman and a mentor. Always with a smile and would lend a hand. I love her Girls and God bless the family! You will be in all of our hearts!
My prayers and condolences go out to the entire family. May God bless each one of you as you blessed Earni while she was alive. I will miss you dear friend there is a void in my heart.
A friend forever Chris
Earni you’ll be trully missed and I will always remember your smiling face that delighted everyone. You always had a postive outlook on life even through your illness you never complained. You’re safe at home now. REST IN PEACE
LayDonnaLaDonna
My prayers are with you all.
Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with You. “Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted”. Matthew 5:4
Janette, Karen, Malcolm, and Tanisha Gowans
I am going to miss my auntie. My thoughts and prayers are with you Granny, Daddy, uncles, and cousins.
Nik,
If I could’ve switched w/a co-worker I would’ve flown up in a heart beat! So,
I send all my love and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time. The picture of your mom is EXACTLY how I always remember her. We miss our loved ones here on earth, even though we know they’re in such a better place!
Much love,
Ry
Nikki:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May the love of God and happy memories of your mom comfort you.
Love and God Bless you,
To My Sisters:
There isn’t anything that I can say to make this time in your lives any easier but, I want you to know that Rozell and I are sending up prayers for all of you and your families. Please know that we love you and will be thinking about you during this time.
to all my family brother and nieces and nephews please be strong the good lord is with you all
My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family during this difficult time. we will truly miss Mom Earni!
We will keep the Family in our prayers. God bless.
I just want to say that Earnie is truly going to be missed by my family. I have known the strongs since I was in kindergarten with Brandi and Earnie was like a second mother to me and always welcomed me in her home. My condolences are with the family and my prayers go out to them as well.
Daryl McLennan Breaux
Life can be a long hard journey,but joy and laughter can make that journey just a little easier. and a lot more fun!! Earnestine, filled my life with more laughter, more joy,and more hope,then any one has. I miss her and will always love her.
Teresa Luise Jones-Crawford
PS. R.I.P. Earnestine.