Earl Grey Kerns Jr.

He was born on June 23, 1943, to Earl Grey Kerns Sr. and Grace (Thompson) Kerns in Elkins, West Virginia.

He graduated from Elkins High School in 1961. After high school, Earl joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Huachuca in Arizona. He was very proud of his service to his country.

While serving in the Army, during a time of leave back home, Earl met the love of his life, Martha Ellen Conrad (“Marty”). The two would share a long-distance relationship, writing letters back and forth while Earl completed his service. Following Earl’s honorable discharge in May 1965, the two would marry on July 17, 1965.

After the Army, Earl earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Geology from West Virginia University and began working for Cities Service in the oil and gas industry, which took them from Charleston to Oklahoma to Houston and beyond. The company would later merge with Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Earl would retire at the age of 51. Earl was a hard worker. He was proud of his military service, and humble. He loved woodworking, yard work, feeding the deer, riding the tractor, cabinet-making, and finishing furniture.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Earl is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marty; children, Shawn and Jennifer Kerns, who attended Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City and the University of Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, Laura; and two grandchildren, Ryan and Erin; brothers, Michael Lugo and Roger Thompson; and sister-in-law, Midge Thompson; as well as several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews from Texas to Michigan to West Virginia.

A private family celebration of life will be held in late October.