Colonel (Ret) USMC Keith (Pops) Earnest, 80 Seffner, Fl. Keith I. Earnest, 80 passed away Friday July 15, 2022 at 2:23 pm, at his home surrounded by loved ones. Keith Earnest was born in Newton, Illinois on September 14, 1941 to Mr. Kimball Levans and Mrs. Beatrice Bernadine Earnest, who preceded him in death.

Colonel (Ret) USMC Keith I Earnest enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to serve his country in the Vietnam War, in which he served two tours with honor. Colonel (Ret) USMC Keith Earnest earned several awards, medals and decorations including a Bronze Star which was presented to him by President Johnson.

Keith Earnest graduated High School at Newton Community High school and then went on to earn two Master's Degrees earned from the University of Illinois, the Master degrees were in Education and Finance. This led him to a career with Wells Fargo bank, where he carried the title of Vice President of Construction Building Loans.

Keith (Pops) Earnest is survived by his wife Gladys (Gabriel) Earnest. They were married for 42 years in which he was a wonderful husband that loved and adored his beautiful wife and best friend. He is also survived by his brother Dewy (wife Carolyn Diane) Earnest, son Stevens (wife Stacey) Price, Grandchildren Keisha Verdetto, Ahrmond Price and Jazmyn Marie Price. His loved ones remember Keith (Pops) Earnest as a very Distinguished, Honorable, Accomplished, Orderly, Brilliant Mind, Quiet and a genuinely Caring man of few words, but when he spoke it was profound in nature.

A service honoring the life of Colonel (Ret) USMC Keith Earnest will be held, Tuesday, July 26th 2022 from 10am-2pm at 6919 Providence Road, Riverview Fl 33578, and he will be laid to rest in a family plot thereafter.