DORA PAGE ERNEST

Dora Page Ernest passed into the next phase of her eternal life March 23, 2012, and God has added another angel to join his family. Dora was born July 23, 1926, in Stanton (Chilton County) Alabama as the middle child of eleven children, six sisters and four brothers, whose parents were George Lee Grover and Lillie Mae Mull. All but two siblings, Millie Chandler and Paul Grover, have predeceased her.

After the tragic accidental death of her husband Gerald Page, Dora attended Troy State Teachers College (Troy State University) in Troy, Alabama where she received a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1958. She moved back to Castleberry, Alabama, and completed her first year as a 5th Grade teacher in Brewton, Alabama, then married Jimmy Ernest (now deceased) and moved to Panama City, Florida in 1959 with her three children, where she taught at Parker Elementary and Northside Elementary schools until her retirement in 1986. Her classroom reflected diligent preparation of lesson plans and creative handicrafts.

Dora was a member of the Florida Retired Educators Association and Bay County Retired Teachers Association, the Panama City Garden Club (Mockingbird Circle), FCE Homemakers of Bay County (Jolly Workers Circle). She also was an active church member at Central Baptist Church, and more recently in 1996 at Woodlawn United Methodist Church (Friendship Sunday School Class). Special friends were Kay Foster, Marie Aldridge and Vivian Steele.

The first most important thing in this earthly life was her close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. This relationship was characterized by prayer, scholarly study and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures and active participation in church life. The second most important aspect of Dora's sojourn on earth was relationships with her family, characterized by frequent communications with siblings, nieces and nephews, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and active participation in family reunions and other celebratory occasions. If there is one term to best describe Dora, it is "unconditional love" for her family.

Dora is survived by her children, Sarah Page McNeal (Don), Allen Page (Cheryl), Ann Page Lysykanycz (Gene); grandchildren, Ann Page Steffens, A.J. Page (deceased), Christopher A. Smith, Jeremiah B. Gafford, Hunter Page Gafford and great grandchildren, Justin Steffens, Preston Smith, Gavin Smith, Peyton Gafford and Austin Gafford and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

The family expresses sincere appreciation to the caregivers that follow: The administration, first floor nurses and staff of Glen Cove Nursing Pavilion; and June Bacon, Angel Chaillou, Margaret Hallisey and all others affiliated with Care With a Flair.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. prior to the service. A private family burial will follow the service.

Wilson Funeral Home