Earnest Lawson Henderson

Earnest Lawson Henderson was born February 10, 1937 in Dallas County near Wood Hill, Mo. to Lawson Monroe (Roe) and Maggie (McCaslin) Henderson and departed life here on September 28, 2019 in Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo.

Earnest grew up in Buffalo and graduated high school there in 1954. He was united in marriage to Darlene Kay Gray on May 19, 1957. To this union four children were born.

Earnest joined the United States Army after high school, where he served as an Ammunition Storage Specialist. He spent most of his working years as a small business owner and operator.

Earnest and his wife loved riding horses, and spent many years as members of the Morgan Horse Club. He loved to hunt and fish and was never happier than when he was spending time at the lake with his family on his pontoon boat, or deer hunting. Earnest deeply loved his family and always enjoyed spending time with them.

Earnest was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Barry Dee Henderson, seven brothers, Marvin Davis, Lloyd Davis, Edwin Peterson, Donald Peterson, Dee Henderson, Owen Henderson, Jim Henderson, and one sister, Fern Chartrand.

Earnest is survived by his wife Darlene of 62 years of the home in Springfield, Mo., two sons, Mark Henderson and his wife Lisa of Denver, Colorado and Todd Henderson of Springfield, Mo, One daughter, Wendy Cave of Springfield, Mo. One brother, Charles Peterson and his wife Genevieve of Fresno, California, one sister, Shirley Dame and her husband Gearld of Phillipsburg, Mo., two sisters-in-law, Rosie Peterson of Eudora, Kansas, and Maxine Henderson of Springfield, Mo., five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews with whom he interacted regularly. He will be greatly missed by an abundance of family and friends.