Ethan W. Herndon, 33, passed away on the night of March 24, 2023, along with his daughter, Riley Mae Herndon, 1. He was born on November 25, 1989, in Tupelo to Dennis and Lisa Easley Herndon. Ethan grew up in Wren and graduated from Amory High School in 2008. Afterwards, he was a student at Mississippi State University when he felt the call to serve his country and he enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly served for four years. Currently, he was an employee of Great American RV in Belden, and he was married to the former Elizabeth Baker on April 4, 2014. Ethan lived on the lighter side of life and could make people smile and he was always up for a good laugh with those whom he liked to joke around. He always searched out the good even in difficult situations and having a huge, compassionate heart, he would often set his problems to the side to see about others’ concerns. Ethan loved to hunt but particularly loved the suspense of turkey hunting. He recently began enjoying squirrel hunting and he like to coon hunt when he was younger. Ethan was a faithful member of Central Grove Baptist Church.
Riley Mae was born ten weeks pre-mature on April 28, 2021, at University Medical Center in Jackson, MS. With so many medical issues working against her, she spent four and a half months in the NICU; but with her strength, resilience, and love at home, she was living as a happy little girl. Everyone in the family knew Riley was a daddy’s girl and she adored her father always looking forward to him coming home from work. Her face would light up when she heard his footsteps coming. She loved her brother and sister fiercely and would make them stop what they were doing just to give her a hug.
The bond Ethan and Riley Mae had was inseparable.
Funeral services for Ethan and Riley will be on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10 a.m. at Central Grove Baptist Church. Bro. Dennis Smithey and Bro. Zack Carter will be officiating. They will be laid to rest together at Old Union Cemetery. Cleveland-Moffett Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.
In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, he is survived by his parents, Dennis and Lisa Herndon of Wren; one son, Brantley Herndon; one daughter, Aubrey Herndon; his brother, Matthew Herndon (Maggie) of Okolona; his sister, Rachel Atkins (Dee) of Pontotoc; and his father and mother-in-law, Larry and Carol Baker of Port Orange, FL.
He was preceded in death by one son, Wyatt Herndon; and his grandparents, Sid and Sybil Herndon and Howard and Ruby Easley.
Pallbearers will be Brian Conner, Derrick Fletcher, Matthew Herndon, Wesley Rogers, Craig Easley, Ross Easley, James Easley, Mikeal Miles, and Justin Logan.
Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. on Friday evening at Central Grove Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Trisomy 13 research at trisomy.org or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
