Sarah Elaine Hurst Ernst

Sarah Elaine Hurst Ernst went to be with her Lord on Friday, January 12, 2018, at the Hospice House in Mountain Home. Sarah was born April 5, 1943, at the Rollins Hospital in Gassville to Elmo and Anna Lucille Hurst. Sarah grew up on the White River at Cotter where her parents owned Hurst Fishing Service.

She attended school in Gassville until the school moved to Cotter. She graduated from Cotter High School in 1961. Sarah moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas where she attended and graduated from Draughn’s Business School. She lived with her best friend, Donna. She worked for Dr. Rainey for several years.

Sarah moved back to Cotter in 1972 and worked for veterinarians Dr. Ed Riley and Dr. Ron Helvey from 1972 to 1982. Sarah’s deep love for animals made her a perfect fit for this job. These three were all jokesters and loved trying to get one over the other.

She went to work for the Corps of Engineers and worked there until she met and fell in love with William “Bill” H. Ernst, who was the Superintendent of Cotter Schools. They were married at her River House in Cotter on April 7, 1984.

In the fall of 1984, they moved to Lead Hill, Arkansas when Bill became the Superintendent of Lead Hill Schools. Sarah worked for Ozark Counseling Services as a medical transcriptionist.

Bill and Sarah came back to their treasured River house in 1993.

Sarah and Bill are the owners and operators of the Denton Ferry RV Park at Cotter which was opened in 1999.

Sarah was a member of the First Christian Church in Mountain Home. A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 10:30 a.m.

If you were fortunate enough to know Sarah, you knew she loved to laugh, play jokes, had an abiding love for her family and animals. She was kind, gentle and loving. She saw the good in the world and was the world’s best at sending cards to people telling them how much she appreciated them.

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Bill Ernst of the home; brother, Philip (Nancy) Hurst of Cotter, Arkansas; children, Paul Douglas Ernst of Marion, Arkansas, and Leslie Michelle (Billy) Seeley of Lead Hill, Arkansas; grandchildren, Steven Seeley of Lead Hill, Arkansas, Tiffany Seeley of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Callie Seeley of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Emilee Gurernsey of Lead Hill, Arkansas, Meghan Seeley of Lead Hill, Arkansas, Jack Ernst of Marion, Arkansas, Evan Ernst of Marion, Arkansas; great-grandson, Logan Seeley of Lead Hill, Arkansas; nieces and nephews, Staci (Corey) Coston of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Melissa (Drew) McKinnon of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jordan Hurst of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a host of extended family, and her beloved dogs, Lady Bug and Arvie.

Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of North Central Arkansas or Hospice of the Ozarks.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.