Ernest Eugene Mast

Ernest Eugene Mast, of Macon Mississippi, moved to his heavenly home on November 29, 2022, at the age of 65 years 6 months and 20 days. He fought a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by the family he loved.

He was born in Goshen, Indiana, to his parents Ottis U. & Anna Mae (Troyer) Mast on May 9, 1957. Ernest accepted Christ as his Savior in his youth and was baptized at the Magnolia Mennonite Church in Macon Mississippi. At the age of nineteen, Ernest married Lois Ann Hilty, of Elida, Ohio. To this union were born four children, Cretora Lois, Douglas Eugene, Elroy Tobias, and Kimberly Anna. The Lord blessed them with two more children, Darrell Alen, and Brittany Kay. Ernest's early occupation was crop & dairy farming. He was not afraid of hard work and was rewarded to see new life in crops & cattle.   Mid-way through life, he retired from full time farming and went into construction work for his son, Elroy. Being the oldest man on the crew, Ernest enjoyed being "Popz” to both Reliable Construction employees as well as to business owners around town. Ernest had a kind, soft spot in his heart and would often reach out to the hurting and the down & out wherever he saw them. Ernest loved the Lord and made sure his family attended church and Sunday School. As the years went by, and Lois Ann's health continued to deteriorate, he became not only a husband but also a caregiver. He toiled tirelessly in holding down a job and caring for his wife. In the battle of life, Ernest never gave up. He continued to fight to serve God and family to the end.

He is survived by his wife Lois Ann, and their children Cretora (Charles) Kline IV, of Mount Airy, Maryland, Douglas (Dinah) Mast, of Mount Airy, Maryland, Elroy (Veronica) Mast, of Crawford, Mississippi, Kimberly (Micah) Hostetler, of Penrose, Colorado, Darrell Oliphant, of Macon, Mississippi and Brittany (Dewayne) Debarr of Ocala, Florida, 30 grandchildren,
Cali, Charles, Bryce, Braden, Jamon, Asher, Joash, Abram, Hadassah and Hudson Kline, Cameron, Sheila (Craig) Martin, Kiana, Donavon, Jenson and Marissa Mast, Israel, Rahab, Claudia, Phoebe, Lucia and Zane Mast, Blake, Ziva, Zoe and Makena Hostetler, Devon and Dexter Debarr. Surviving also are his father, Ottis Mast of Macon, Mississippi, one brother, Glenn Mast, of Myerstown, Pennsylvania, sister-in-law Maggie Mast, of Canon City, Colorado, and three sisters, Carolyn (Don) Miller, of Goshen, Indiana, Rosetta (Daniel) Petre, of Macon, Mississippi, Cheryl (John) Mullet, Brooksville Mississippi, sister-in-law, Joyce (John) Miller, of Brooksville, Mississippi.

He was predeceased by his mother, Anna Mae (Troyer) of Macon, Mississippi, one brother Otis Elwayne Mast, Macon, Mississippi, two grandchildren Andrew Elliot Mast, of Mount Airy, Maryland and Angelica Hope Kline, of Mount Airy, Maryland.

Visitation will be at the Magnolia Mennonite Church on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm.   Services will be held at 1 pm at the same location
on Sunday, December 4, 2022. Interment will follow in Faith Mennonite Church Cemetery. Memorial donations can be sent to IHC to help Ukraine orphans. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.