Ernest Collette (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Ernest Henry Collette, eldest son of Ernest O. and Mary Florence Stochaj Collette, was born June 2, 1934, in Putnam, Connecticut. He departed this life Sunday, October 17, 2010, in Lake Regional Hospital, in Osage Beach, Missouri, at the age of seventy-six years, four months, and fifteen days.
On April 20, 1968, he was united in marriage to Betty LaVerne Mason Anderson, and to this union one son and one daughter were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Lori Ann Collette; a granddaughter, Caitlyn Cribbs; three brothers, Tom, Bob, and David Collette; and two step-brothers.
Ernie is survived by his loving wife, Betty, of the home; two sons, Ernest R. Collette, and his wife, Pam, of Springfield, Missouri, and Daryl Anderson, of Lubbock, Texas; a daughter, Kristi Cribbs, of Scottsdale, Arizona; four granddaughters, Marisa Maldonado, Dyan Covington, Jesse Cribbs, and Brooke Collette; a great-grandson, Anthony Ynessa; two brothers, Jerry Collette, and Denis Collette, and his wife, Sandra, all of the State of Massachusetts; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in Connecticut and Massachusetts, where he attended parochial school during his education years. Ernie proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps for twenty years, with combat in both Korea and Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam from December 1966 until January 1968, he was involved in combat at Con Thien, Khe Sahn, Hill 881 South, Camp Carroll, Dong Ha, Cam Lo, Cua Vet, DMZ, C-2, Hill 861, and Gio Linh.
During his tour in Vietnam, Ernie’s company was featured in a Life Magazine article by photographer, David Douglas Duncan. He is shown in a couple of the photographs in the article. He is also named in the book Vietnam Sons, for some the war never ended by Dale Keuter. The book is written about his company (Mike Co., 3rd Bn, 9th Marines, Third Marine Division) in a 1967 incident and other combat situations experienced by M/3/9.
After retiring from the Marines, he and Betty made their home in San Diego, California for several years, and Ernie worked as a security guard at Campbell Shipyards. Later, when the family moved to Lebanon, Missouri, Ernie worked as an assembler at Tracker Marine.
Ernie was a member of Sleeper United Methodist Church.
He had a love for animals and there was usually a cat or a dog as part of their household. For many years he had several tanks of tropical fish that he tended faithfully. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed his granddaughters and great-grandson.
Ernie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that he will be fondly remembered as a devoted family man, a courageous and decorated Marine, and a true patriotic citizen.
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