Ernest Sutton "Slim" Harnden, Jr. 92, passed away peacefully from this life to the next on the morning of May 9, 2013. He was first known as Little Ernest since he was a Junior, then Tex in the Navy, Slim at the Dairy Bar and Cowboy from his close friends.
Ernest was born on June 21, 1920 in Yoakum, TX as the oldest of four children. He was the first drafted from Dewitt county during WWII and enlisted with the United States Navy. He served for eight years, attaining the rank of Chief Gunner's Mate and earned many accommodations. Slim was stationed in the Pacific during World War II, arriving at Pearl Harbor one day after it was bombed. He was a very patriotic man, never letting the sacrifices of others be forgotten. His sense of right and wrong never left him and was an example to others; always standing up for what he believed in. He was always fair, taking people at their word and keeping his.
He married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Dorothy Lee Tolbert in 1946. After leaving the Navy, Slim and Dorothy traveled north to Nebraska and began sales for Tom Toasted Peanuts. In 1951 Slim and Dorothy moved to Lake Jackson where they bought the Dairy Bar, one of the first fast food restaurants in Lake Jackson. Slim never met a stranger. He always wore a smile and often shared a story with you. He wanted you to feel better about yourself after each encounter with him. His business grew because he believed a consistent product along with great services will give you loyal customers.
Nothing was more important to Slim than his family. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his wife and daughters. Slim was full of love, wanting to give his family anything and everything. He also was very compassionate and understanding.
Slim felt fortunate and lucky in his life, not only surviving multiple life-threatening events during his life, but also finding the love of his life and providing for his family he loved so much. He wanted to do everything with family, spending as much time as possible with them.
Slim loved people and people loved Slim. He knew no strangers, speaking to anyone as if he had known them for years, and always showed kindness to everyone. He helped countless people, wanting to make people feel better after talking to them. Slim was always the servant, preferring to wait on other people over being waited on. Slim was a faith filled man who believed in the Christian values of serving others and living a life of love, giving and compassion.
Over the last decade of his life, his favorite place to be was at the ranch with his family. He often stated that he felt closest to God in nature. He loved to be sitting outside by the fire looking at the sunset and searching the sky for the evening star he gave to his wife.
Ernest is preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy Lee Tolbert, his parents his Martha and Ernest Harnden, Sr . He is survived by his two daughters, Mary Harnden and Dona Myers and husband Robert; grandchildren Laura Aleman and husband Julio, David Myers, Christy Ross and husband Bobby; great-grandchildren Felipe Aleman, Adam Ross and David Myers, Jr.; brothers David and wife Marty, Paul and wife Patricia and sister Patricia Stark; cousins Daniel Wendt and wife Jane, Arthur Harnden and wife Betty and Dorothy Andrews.
The visitation is scheduled for May 13th at Lakewood Funeral Chapel , 98 Dixie Drive, Lake Jackson, Tx 77566 from 5:00 p.m. to Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Funeral mass will be held at St. Michaels Church, at 110 Oak Drive S, Lake Jackson at 11 a.m on Tuesday May 14, 2013. Burial Committal follows at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Yoakum, Texas at 4 p.m.

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