Earnest "Earnie" Stallings

Earnest “Earnie” Eugene Stallings, 80 of Jonesboro passed from this life to be with his Lord, Saturday, January 15, 2022, at St. Bernards Medical Center.  He was born into the loving family of Herbert and Bernice Stallings on September 21, 1941, in Jonesboro.  He joined siblings Neil, Harvey, June, Martha, Delores and younger brother Herb.   Earnie was a graduate of Jonesboro High School in 1959, where he enjoyed athletics more than academics.

Earnie served in the Army National Guard for 4 years.   He was a conductor for the Cotton Belt Railroad and retired after 35 years and received an accommodation for injury free service.  Earnie’s real passion was music.  He formed a southern gospel quartet with friends Jim Mead, Fred Pearson, Keith Hamm and Mary Stallings.  The Homeboys loved to preform locally and regionally. Earnie also sang on his own back porch and produced his own CD’s, as the “Back Porch Singing Conductor.”  He would often perform his gospel music at senior citizen communities and local churches whenever asked.  Earnie was a member of Forest Home Church of the Nazarene where he was the choir director for 25 years.  He was always the first one at church and the last one to leave.

Earnie was an outgoing person and a great storyteller.  He loved retelling stories of his childhood misadventures with his siblings and the trouble they never avoided.  He had great strength and love for his family.  Earnie lived his life as a man of character, dispensing words of wisdom and was loved by everyone.  One of his favorite things to do was to build a fire and listen to The Gaither’s sing.  He also loved spending time with his friends Sean Hannity, Laura Ingram along with James Arness and Andy Griffith.  Most importantly, Earnie loved being Papa!

Earnie is preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Bernice; brothers Neil and Harvey; sisters, June, Martha and Delores.

Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Bobbie of the home; sons, Andy Stallings of North Little Rock and Paul David (Tara) Stallings of Jonesboro; daughters, Kim Stallings of Jonesboro and Janet Stallings of North Little Rock;’ brother, Herb (Sharon) Stallings of Jonesboro and brother-in-law Tom Hendrix; 3 grandchildren; Parker Stallings, Piper Stallings and Colton Carter, and a bonus grandson Christian Hightower; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Forest Home Church of the Nazarene from 12-1 PM.  Service will begin at 1 PM with Ken Stallings officiating.  A private burial will follow with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of services.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Ron Stallings, Tim Stallings, Ed Gibson, Larry Gibson, Scott Hendrix, Danny Stallings, Rob Gibson and Steve Gibson.

The family request that all who attend the visitation and the service to wear a mask.

To register online, go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com