Ernestine Ray Lusk

Ernestine Ray Lusk, 87, of Paris, Arkansas and former Coleman resident, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2013 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman, with Matthew Hinman officiating. Burial will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Ernestine Lusk was born November 28, 1925 in Coleman, to Robert Bentley and Viola Jackson Ray. Ernestine had a wonderful life with her parents and siblings: Ruby, Leonard, Ina Fay and Edith. When Ernestine was 14, she lost her father to lung disease and had to quit high school to help support her mother and two siblings, Ina Fay and Edith. She worked at Cross Pharmacy as a Soda Jerk for some time, when she decided she wanted to learn to fly at the flight school at the Coleman Airport. Her mother was scared to death to have her beloved daughter take to the skies. But if you knew Ernestine, you knew her determination. After much debate, she convinced her mother to allow her to take flying lessons wit the overtime money she had earned. When Ernestine earned her certification, the Flight School offered her a job to pre-flight the planes for the government contract to teach young men to fly for the war effort. She earned considerably more money, and her mother, affectionately known as Granny Ray, was glad that Ernestine had been so persuasive.

At the of 16, Ernestine met a young Sergeant in the Army named Durwood Lusk. They dated off and on for two years. One day, she received a letter from him telling her that he would like to come to see hera�"he had something important to ask her. Two days later, they were married. They were married for 47 years when Durwood passed away in 1990. They had four children: Kempston Durwood Lusk, Jr., known as Butchie, who preceded them in death at two years of age, Linda Agnes Lusk, Layton Dean Lusk and Layne Martin Lusk.

In later years, Ernestine moved to Paris, Arkansas, where she married an old friend, Don Heathcott. Don passed away after seven years of marriage. Ernestine enjoyed living in Paris, overlooking Lake Magazine, with the spillway and river that passed behind her home. Ernestine became ill, and her doctor said it was better if she no longer lived alone. She was in the process of moving in with her daughter and son-in-law, when she was suddenly hospitalized.

Ernestine Ray Lusk, Ernie to most, has been an inspiration to anyone who knew her. She kindly gave of herself and always lived by the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" motto.

Survivors include three children, Linda Sanders and husband, Tony, of San Antonio, Layton Lusk of Paris, Arkansas and wife, Jeannie Lusk of Lockhart, Layne Lusk and wife, Jeannie Kay, of Chandler, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, several cousins and many nieces and nephews.

Ernestine was preceded in death by her husband, Durwood Lusk in 1990; one son, Kempston Durwood "Butchie" Lusk, Jr.; four brothers and sisters, Ruby Irene Faulkner, Leonard B. Ray, Ina Faye Graham and Edith Hahn.

Family visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 5, 2013 at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Please sign her online guestbook at www.livingmemorials.com.