- Ernest Lou Mabie passed from this life on May 10, 2015. Ernie's kindness, loyalty, honesty, constant good humor, Modesty, self-reliant work ethic, and wise judgment brought him the respect of all who knew him and the enduring love of his family and friends. Ernie's life had deep roots in Western Colorado.
He was born on April 20, 1926, in Grand Junction, the third child of Claude and Lucille Mabie. Claude Mabie had an extensive sheep business, at one point owning over 2500 sheep, and from an early age, Ernie helped his father in this arduous line of work.
After graduating from Grand Junction High School in 1944, Ernie served in the Army until 1946, a period that included a tour of duty in the Aleutian Islands. He left the Army as a Sergeant. Returning to Grand Junction, he attended Mesa College for a year, and then joined his father's sheep business.
Ernie married Louise Maybon in 1948. From this marriage a son, Herbert R. Mabie "Herbie", was born in 1953. Herbie married Ruth Gustin in 1972. Herbie and Ruth had three children, Jeff, Heather, and Amber, and nine grandchildren for whom Ernie was an affectionate and much beloved grandfather and great-grandfather. Ernie and Louise divorced in 1954. Ernie remained a bachelor until 1967, when his brother arranged a date for him with Elizabeth "Betty" Allen. Ernie and Betty married two months after they met, beginning a remarkably loving, harmonious, and respectful marriage that lasted until Ernie's death, over 48 years later.
To Betty's sons from a prior marriage, Richard Allen and Glen Keith Allen, Ernie became not only a father but one of their best friends, and a wonderful grandfather for their four children.
At one point the Mabies' sheep operation encompassed many thousands of acres on Pinion Mesa. Raising sheep, however, proved increasingly unprofitable, and in the early 1970's Ernie and his father sold their sheep business. Thereafter, Ernie raised corn (for Pioneer Seed Corn), barley (for which he received a Distinguished Grower award from Coors in 1979) and other crops on a farm he and Betty owned near Fruita. Like raising sheep, farming was hard work, but Ernie never complained. Ernie's children and grandchildren fondly recall their times riding on Ernie's tractor on his farm. In 1993, Ernie retired from farming, and he and Betty sold the farm and moved to Orchard Mesa in Grand Junction.
Among Ernie and Betty's favorite activities after their retirement was playing Skip-Bo, which they often did with their grandchildren. Ernie was skilled at Skip Bo, contemplating every move. He remained mentally sharp until his death, scoring 14 out of 15 in a memory test near the end of his life. Ernie had an engaging sense of humor. He had a fondness for Airedales. One of his Airedales, oddly named "Ewe", was rather irascible. Ernie once commented of Ewe that "he was very even-tempered; he was mad all the time". Of farming, he remarked that "you are caught up one day and two weeks behind the next".
Ernie had his own set of values, which emphasized honesty, hard work, and traditional family values, but he was open minded and never sought to impose his views on others. He was slow to criticize and quick to praise. He listened respectfully to others. No one can recall him raising his voice in anger.
Ernie is survived by his wife, Betty; son, Herbie (Ruth), their three children, and nine grandchildren; step-son, Richard Allen (Lynn), and their daughter, Lily; step-son, Glen Keith (Ina), and their three children, Natalie, Tristan, and Stefan; Ernie's younger brothers, Herbert and Robert "Bob" (Catherine). He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Nettye; a brother who died as an infant, and his sister-in-law, Louise.
Ernie was a man who could be counted on for encouragement, empathy, sage advice, friendship, and love. He gave much and asked little He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at the Heritage Church, 2403 N 12th Street, Grand Junction, at 1:00 p.m. on May 30,2015.
|
1925 - 2017 (92 years)
[1, 2] 
