Ernest was a dare-devil at heart. He loved to ride his motorcycle when young and attempted many stunts. When Ernest was 38 (May 25,1936) he was injured in a work related accident. A large GM truck crushed his legs against the work bench. Most of his doctors gave up on him but he had a will to live and walked again. He was in Presbyterian Hospital for 3 months in a body cast with both legs. Even after he was paralized on his left side by a surgeon's mistake in 1940 during a fistula operation at the Veteran's Hospital he rallied. He had to wear a full leg brace for over 30 years which he made himself. The circulation in both of his legs was very poor and he suffered from skin ulcers constantly, but he was not a man to complain. He managed to do most things even with his handicap. He drove a taxi in 1939 from Colfax to the Jewish TB hospital; went to Machinest training at Opportunity School and learned to use a lathe. He worked for Foss as a machinest. The work required standing and was too much for his legs, so he got jobs he could do at home at his own pace. He chopped wood, built garages, you name it he did it. He loved to create "something out of nothing". He could make most anything or at least try. He built a small tractor out of car parts and a farm equipment engine. He made beds and doll furniture for his grandchildren. As he got older he learned to make rag rugs that were beautiful. He made most of his grandchildren wooden rolling pins. Ernest died of a massive heart attack after a short illness. He had been in the Veterans Hospital in Poplar Bluff, MO for skin cancer surgery and congested lungs. Ernest was a dare-devil at heart. He loved to ride his motorcycle when young and attempted many stunts. When Ernest was 38 (May 25,1936) he was injured in a work related accident. A large GM truck crushed his legs against the work bench. Most of his doctors gave up on him but he had a will to live and walked again. He was in Presbyterian Hospital for 3 months in a body cast with both legs. Even after he was paralized on his left side by a surgeon's mistake in 1940 during a fistula operation at the Veteran's Hospital he rallied. He had to wear a full leg brace for over 30 years which he made himself. The circulation in both of his legs was very poor and he suffered from skin ulcers constantly, but he was not a man to complain. He managed to do most things even with his handicap. He drove a taxi in 1939 from Colfax to the Jewish TB hospital; went to Machinest training at Opportunity School and learned to use a lathe. He worked for Foss as a machinest. The work required standing and was too much for his legs, so he got jobs he could do at home at his own pace. He chopped wood, built garages, you name it he did it. He loved to create "something out of nothing". He could make most anything or at least try. He built a small tractor out of car parts and a farm equipment engine. He made beds and doll furniture for his grandchildren. As he got older he learned to make rag rugs that were beautiful. He made most of his grandchildren wooden rolling pins.

Ernest died of a massive heart attack after a short illness. He had been in the Veterans Hospital in Poplar Bluff, MO for skin cancer surgery and congested lungs.

He was cremated.