Ernest Marvin Birmingham

Ernest Marvin Birmingham, 90, of Searcy died peacefully Saturday, November 21, 2009 of congestive heart failure.

He was born June 16, 1919 at Dowdy, Arkansas. He was the son of O.C. and Maude Birmingham. Marvin was preceded in death by his wife of sixty seven years, Jean Ward Birmingham and five brothers.

He served in the Army during WWII. After the war, he moved to Tuckerman, Arkansas. While raising his family he worked at Mississippi River Fuel Company and the Arkansas Highway Department. He retired from the highway department in 1985. He and Jean moved to Searcy for their retirement.

He was a member of the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy and was active in church-related activities and was very involved in the Arkansas Highway Department retiree organization where he served as President. Marvin was extremely family oriented.

He is survived by three sons, O.C. and Hilary Birmingham of Carrollton, Texas; Don and Mary Birmingham of Searcy; and Andy and Delilah Birmingham of Searcy. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Charlie and Anne Marie Birmingham; Brian (Melanie) and Barry (Sheri) Birmingham; Nancy Davis; Jeff Birmingham; Brandon Birmingham; and Heather Anderson, and great-grandchildren Tyler and Ally McNeil; Madeleine Birmingham; Brittany and Braden Birmingham; Blake, Brooke and Berklee Birmingham.

The grandchildren served as pallbearers and the great-grandchildren served as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 22, 2009 from 6 to 8 PM at Searcy-McEuen Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 P.M., Monday, November 23, at the funeral home with interment following at Swifton Cemetery in Swifton, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to Searcy Children's Home or Paragould Children's Home.

Express your condolences online at: www.searcymceuenfuneralhome.com.