Tyrone Lamont Earnest's Obituary
Sergeant Tyrone Lamont Earnest, 52, of Tacoma, Washington, passed away at his home on July 28, 2025. Born on February 10, 1973, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Tyrone was the beloved son of Ethel Jean Wilbon and Willie Leevater Earnest. He spent his childhood summers surrounded by cousins and kin at his grandparents' homes in Little Rock and Holly Grove—places that nurtured his sense of family, faith, and resilience.
After graduating from Elsik High School in Houston, Texas, in 1992, Tyrone answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. While stationed at Fort Bragg, he experienced a transformative moment of faith and accepted
Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1993, a calling that led him to the ministry. Following his active-duty service, he moved to Washington State in 1994 where he attended New Testament Christian Seminary in Graham, WA. He graduated from the
Seminary in 1997. As a licensed Minister, Tyrone became a team leader for the ministry outreach program in Auburn, WA. Tyrone continued to serve in the Washington State Army National Guard as a Combat Medic while also working in the
construction industry as an insulation installer. With unwavering commitment and pride, Tyrone dedicated 17 years of his life to military service and was a devoted member of the 181st Brigade Support Battalion Charlie Company at the time of
his passing.
On March 14, 2014, Tyrone met the love of his life, Chelsey (Walter) Smith. They married on May 16, 2015, in Maple Valley, WA. Though they did not have children together, they built a beautiful, blended family that included Chelsey’s three sons—Colton (Taylor) Smith of Bothell, WA, Tyler Smith of Spokane, WA, and D’mon Adams of Tacoma, WA—and four cherished grandchildren: Malaya and Talia Adams, Memphis Smith, and Jayden Smith. Tyrone embraced Chelsey’s family as his own and treasured their time together.
True to his nature—gentle, compassionate, and selfless—Tyrone dreamed of becoming a nurse. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Olympic College in June 2024, where he served as Vice President of the BSN Nursing
Club and helped launch the Veteran Licensed Practical Nurse Club and mentorship program. Olympic College faculty honored him with the 2024 Spirit of Nursing Award for his exemplary leadership, ethics, and dedication. His colleagues
described him as compassionate, grounded, and deeply respected—a true advocate for patient care. He fulfilled his calling as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma, where he worked until his passing.
In his downtime, Tyrone found joy in the simple things: visiting family in Eastern Washington, California, and Arkansas, riding his Harley Davidson (even when it ended up on the ground more than the road—God love him), and spending
hours camping, hiking, and fishing on Lake Roosevelt. His laughter, stories, and soulful presence made every gathering more meaningful.
Tyrone is survived by his loving wife, Chelsey Earnest of Tacoma, WA; his mother, Ethel Jean Wilbon of Holly Grove, AR; niece Nahtalie McElroy and nephew Trendon Oliver; nephew T.J. Horton of Little Rock, AR; brother Willie (Retea) Earnest of Vallejo, CA; sisters Renee (Anthony) Smith of Salem, OR, Letitia (Curtis) Aaron of Stockton, CA, and Tara (Joseph) Millhouse of Stockton, CA; and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews who adored him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Willie L. Earnest; stepmother, Joanne Earnest; brother, Derrick L. Earnest—all of Vallejo, CA—and sister, Trendia Horton of Little Rock, AR.
In lieu of flowers, and to honor Tyrone’s devotion to education and veterans, donations may be made to the American Legion’s “Be the One” program at https://mylegion.org or Stop Soldier Suicide at https://stopsoldiersuicide.org. These causes embody his enduring mission to serve, support, and heal.
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