Ernest Leon Atkinson went to his Heavenly home, peacefully, November 23rd, 2023.

He was born on August 24th, 1956. He grew up primarily around Sacramento and Lincoln California with the exception of four years when his family moved to Colorado. Ernie was one of twelve children. He loved all his siblings, but was especially close to two of his brothers, Albert and Ted. The three of them explored and got into trouble together.

He grew up farming and would often talk about taking care of cows, tractor work and bailing hay. Any chance he got to smell a hay field or look at old tractors made him happy. In his young adult life, he loved drag racing his Camaro and working on cars. He started his walk with the lord on June 3rd, 1979, being baptized in Sacramento, California by Brother Allen Rossiter. He met the love of his life Brenda Louise Smith, and they were married August 25, 1979, and had 44 wonderful years together. This union blessed him with four children. He raised his family around the Sacramento area except for a brief time when they moved to McKinleyville, California in 1985. He made his family feel safe and always tried to create a stable home by putting God first in his life.

Ernie was strong and a very hard worker when providing for his family, but his nature was to put his all into everything he did. He was known for his natural talent to fix anything and everything. He was a perfectionist, stern, humble, had an infectious laugh, ornery and hospitable. He took joy in giving to others, even if it meant he had to do without. Ernie was given a beautiful gift in the ministry and loved to be used by the spirit to preach the Word. With that he loved to visit on the Word. Ernie suffered a stroke in 2014 and he and his family endured many trials in the last years of his life but his trust in God never wavered. This stroke affected his ability to do the things he once loved to do in life but he was able to still enjoy going for drives, having lunch dates with his wife, sitting in the sunshine, being able to visit with his friends and loved ones, listening to the Bible, attending church when he was able, getting to ride his lawnmower and indulging his sweet tooth, especially his daughter-in-law's homemade hot fudge.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Brenda Atkinson; his four children, Jeffrey Atkinson and wife Erin, Amanda Atkinson, Alisha Hardt and husband Phillip, and Andrea Atkinson; two grandchildren, Brenna and Sydney Atkinson; seven surviving siblings and many nephews, nieces, family, and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother Clement and Betty Atkinson, father and mother-in-law Johnny and Velma Smith, three grandchildren Reed Atkinson, Josephine Hardt, and Fynn Hardt. Four siblings Marcella Easter, Hank, Richard and Cody Atkinson. No amount of time would be enough to have him with us, but he was ready to finish his race here and win his reward.