Obituary for Ernest Trout

Ernest Merrell Trout, Jr. "Ernie", local retired funeral director and embalmer died Monday July 27, 2015 at the age of 97. A native Ponca City resident, he has lived his life in our community, serving those who have lost theirs. Funeral services have been scheduled for 10:00 a.m.Thursday July 30, 2015 at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Father Dee Wellington Bright of Grace Episcopal Church officiating. He will be buried privately at Resthaven Memorial Park. Arrangements are made under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

Ernie was born to Earnest M. and Nelle Babcock Trout on October 15, 1917. Virginia Williams became his wife in November of 1939 in Ponca City. After Virginia’s passing, he married Louise Jacoby Leonard in June of 1997. While attending the University of Minnesota majoring in Pre-Med, World War II broke out and he came back to Ponca City to help out with the funeral home. Ernie’s father, E.M. opened the E.M. Trout & Sons Funeral Home in 1936, a business in which they worked seven days a week for the next 41 years. In addition to handling funeral services, the firm also operated a 24-hour-a-day ambulance service for over three decades. Ernie worked day in and day out at the Trout Funeral Home with his brothers and father serving the Ponca City community. Ernie served as Mayor of Ponca City from 1971 – 1974. He was also a member of the Ponca City Lions Club and was an avid tennis player playing all the way until the age of 85.

Survivors include his beloved wife Louise "Lou" Jacoby Trout, sister Phyllis Baker Gehrig of Carmichael, CA, sister in law, Louise Trout of Ponca City, daughter, Candace Peace of Sarasota, FL, step children: John Leonard of Ponca City, Tom Leonard and wife Ann of Wilmington, NC, and Ann McDowell and husband Glenn of Tyler, TX, grandsons Scott Thomas Peace of Sarasota, FL, and Michael Craig Peace and wife Stacey of Sarasota, FL, great granddaughter Hayley Peace of Sarasota, FL and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, twin brothers, Jack and Jim Trout, and his wife Virginia

Source: Trout Funeral Home