Ernest Steven Dawley, born Oct. 28, 1951 to Bill and Kay Dawley, passed away on Dec. 21, 2021, at the age of 70. He fought a good fight, living life to the fullest, until he lost his fight to cancer.
Ernie loved God, his family, friends, church, and community. As a lifetime resident of Arbuckle/College City and the manager of Dawley’s Chevron Service, he was well known, especially for being a good friend, pumping gas, changing oil, keeping the cleanest restrooms, and giving licorice and ice cream to the kids of unsuspecting mothers.
He enjoyed working with all the people who worked at the gas station/coffee shop, teaching multiple kids how to count change back, treat customers with courtesy, flip an egg over easy without breaking the yolk, and how to make a really good milkshake.
He was a jokester and would embarrass his family by stopping a complete stranger wherever we were, and ask them the way to Reno.
Hello Dawley could be heard loudly whenever he saw his cousins, Butch, Denny, and David Dawley. When Hospice came to take care of him during his last days, the nurse asked him his name, he said, “The Big E, the man to see.” He still had his sense of humor, even to the end.
Ernie is survived by his wife of 41 years, Janet Dawley, children/grandchildren Suzie, Billy, Michelle, Wyatt, Matthew, Elizabeth Dawley, brother Doug (Gail) Dawley, sisters Debbie (George) Jimenez, Dori Collins, Valerie Maddy, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncle, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at the Arbuckle Community Church, 700 Hillgate Rd., Arbuckle. Interment will follow at the College City Cemetery. A private family reception will be held following the interment.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Ernie’s memory to the Arbuckle/College City Volunteer Firemen, P O Box 727, Arbuckle, CA 95912 or to the Arbuckle Community Church Memorial Fund, P O Box 857, Arbuckle, CA 95912.
The family would love to hear your story about how Ernie impacted your life. We would like to share a few of the stories during his Celebration of Life service. Please send your story to email address:
ernie70bd@gmail.com■
PUBLISHED 12/30/2021 • COLUSA COUNTY PIONEER REVIEW #2021-5409