Mary Maude Earnest

Mary Maude Toole Earnest left this temporary life to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Harvest Church United Methodist with Pastor Ralph Sigler officiating at 3:30 pm Sunday, February 21, 2016.  The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 3:30 prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made to Harvest Church, 2727 Fortner Street, Dothan, AL 36305.

Mary was born in Dothan, AL on August 16, 1944, growing up in Graceville Florida.  She graduated from Graceville High School, acquired a BS degree from Florida State University, and an MS from Troy University.  Her career focus has been Health and Human Services.  Putting her heart into services, management and administrative positions throughout the Wiregrass: Sunland Center, Marianna, Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Wiregrass United Way, Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center, and Pathway Enterprise and Ozark.  She was a charter member of Harvest Church United Methodist. Mary dedicated her life to service in her church, community, and the state specifically to changing lives through spiritual and emotional healing.  Spiritually she understood the importance of raising children to fear and love the Lord.

At retirement her planned activities were to complete the requirements as a Licensed Professional Counselor to provide pro-bono services at her church, challenging herself through piano lessons, continuing her love of heirloom sewing for her grandchildren with a wonderful class of sewing enthusiasts, and spending more time with family.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Mike Holmes Toole, mother, Viola Parker Toole, sister, Linda Toole Simmons, and brother, John Michael Toole.

She is survived by her husband of fifteen years, Olen Lee Earnest, two children, Jonathan Brett Bailey wife Tammy, Natalie Carol Clark Gowen husband Jason, and two grandchildren, Mary Katherine Gowen and Jackson Allen Gowen.

Mary’s family would like to thank those people who have been so supportive during her battle with cancer.  We truly could not have managed so well without your powerful prayers, outreach and expressions of encouragement.