SSG. (Retired) Earnest Lee, 70, of Manhattan, died Friday, December 22, 2017 at Village Villa Nursing Home in Nortonville, KS. Earnest was born the 10th child of 14 children, October 20, 1947 in Edison, Georgia, the son Samuel and Pearl (Jackson) Lee. Earnest graduated from high school in Palatka, Florida.

He spent his 18 year military career in the U.S. Army, retiring as a SSG. He was a member of and door greeter and usher for Living Word International Ministries Church in Junction City. He was baptized and dedicated his life to Christ at the Second Missionary Baptist Church on Feb. 28, 1993 by Ellis Robinson.

Earnest married Carolyn Tolliver-Lee on November 1, 1981 at the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Manhattan. Carolyn survives of the home. Other survivors include: Miles H. Price and his wife Vivian Ferguson, East Strasburg, PA, Major Harold E. Price and his wife Joanna, Eagan, MN, Joseph A. Lee and his wife Kim, Manhattan, and Cameron J. Lee, Overland Park, KS; a daughter, LaTanya Lee, Palatka, FL; 3 brothers, John Lee, Jacksonville, FL, Jesse Lee and Paul Lee, Palatka, FL; 4 sisters, Betty Lee-Cooper, Palatka, FL, Marjorie Lee-Holsey, Lake City, FL, Pauline Lee and Nancy Lee-Wright, both of Palatka, FL; 10 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandson. Earnest was preceded in death by his parents, by brothers, Luther J., Stanley King, Albert, and Willie James; and by sisters, Mary Frances Harris and Evon Lee-Sherman.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 29, 2017 at Penwell-Gabel Junction City Chapel in Junction City, with Pastor James Johnson presiding. Burial will follow at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at Manhattan. Military Honors will be provided by the U.S. Army Honor Guard from Ft. Riley at the cemetery. The family will greet friends at funeral home on Friday, 12:00 p.m. until service time.

Memorial contributions may be made in Earnest's name to Hidden Heroes, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, 600 New Hampshire Ave. NW, STE 1020, Washington, D.C. 20037.