Earnest Eugene Cleveland

Earnest Eugene Cleveland, 89 of Bonney Lake, Washington, formerly of Miami, Oklahoma passed at home with loving caregivers on April 6, 2013 . Mr. Cleveland was born to William Otto Cleveland and Cassie Elizabeth (Blackford) Cleveland on February 11, 1924 in Welch, Oklahoma. Mr. Cleveland was inducted into the Army as a combat medic in WWII European Theatre with the 2nd Infantry Division and participated in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe battles/campaigns. Mr. Cleveland was wounded on August 12, 1944 during the Northern France Operation and awarded the Purple Heart. He married Juanita Lou Cleveland at First Baptist Church of Miami, Oklahoma on September 2 1947. The couple had recently celebrated their 65th anniversary with friends and family in Washington. Mr. Cleveland was preceded in death by Juanita recently on November 15, 2012, his parents and five brothers Wesley Herbert Cleveland, Louis Wentworth Cleveland , William Orville Cleveland, Marvin Lee Cleveland, Donald Everett Cleveland and two sisters Juanita Mae Miller, Evalyn Ester Barbee, one great-grandchild Dakota Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland was a graduate of Welch High school in 1943. After WWII Mr. Cleveland graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 1949 before continuing his undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Eugene, which he was commomly known as, is survived by three sons Dennis Eugene Cleveland of Miami, Oklahoma, David Allan Cleveland of Wildomar, California, Daniel Wayne Cleveland of Victoria, Texas and daughter Denita Jean Eckhart of Bonney Lake, Washington. Mr. Cleveland leaves six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters Leta Lucille Webb of Bellevue, Washington, Mable Irene Harris of Commerce, Oklahoma and one brother John Owen Cleveland of Towanda, Kansas. Memorial services will be on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church Chapel in Miami, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Miami under the care of the Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami. Friends and family may send notes of encouragement to the family by viewing Eugene’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com. A reception will be conducted with friends and family at First Baptist Church in Miami, Oklahoma following services. Memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church 24 A Street SW Miami, Oklahoma 74354.

Earnest Eugene Cleveland

February 11, 1924 - April 6, 2013