Kansas Ernest

SALTVILLE, Va. – Kansas Smith Davidson Ernest, age 83, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at her home in Saltville.
She was born April 9, 1924, in Saltville, to the late Press and Blanche Shortt Smith. She was a wonderful mother and homemaker and a great storyteller. She loved to make her family laugh. She attended Midway Chapel Church and loved music.
Kansas was preceded in death by her first husband, John Davidson; her second husband, Charles Ernest; a son, Ronnie Davidson; an infant daughter; one brother; four sisters; one daughter-in-law; and two sons-in-law.
Survivors include two sons, John Butch Davidson and Carolyn of Martinsville, Va., and Dan and Shirley Davidson of Manassas, Va.; two daughters, Peggy DeBord and Dolly and Robert Carter, all of Saltville; three brothers, Preston Smith of Harrison, Tenn., Rob Smith of Gilbert, S.C., and Joe Smith of Brevard, N.C.; three sisters, Linda Smith of Perryville, Md., Billy Bowman of Savage, Minn., and Juanita Rutherford of Toronto, Ontario; two uncles, Hobart Shortt and Glen Shortt; 12 grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Roscoe "Bud" Davidson and Joyce of Saltville; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, at Henderson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bobby Briggs officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabeth Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 12:30 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Saltville Fire Department and Saltville Rescue Squad.
Special thanks go to granddaughter, Lisa Whitt, Home Health Care, Wendy Boyd and Hospice of Chilhowie.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville is serving the Kansas Ernest family.