Pastor Senior Adults
In 1999 First Free WIll Baptist Church of Russellville had four full time men on their staff, the oldest one being 43 years old. They felt that it would be good to have an older man on the staff. They chose Earl to work with the older people. He was already teaching them, and doing what he could to help.
Bro. Earl was born April 15, 1933 near Bolleville. He married Effie Gene Moriss on July 8, 1951. After training to be a Rock Island Railroad Depot Agent, he spent several years moving over 3 or 4 states for the railroad. You learn a lot about all the churches when you move so much. At this time Earl had not been called to preach, but his call came a short time later.
Earl was ordained as a Free Will Baptist Pastor on August 4, 1984, and he pastored the church where he was ordained for 13 years, through three expansion projects..
Earl and Effie Gene raised five children. Earl worked for Firestone for 22 years as a supervisor, and attended Arkansas Tech part time.
Earl pastored at Mt. Vernon for 11 years. In May 1999, he accepted the position of Pastor of Senior Adults, teaching adult classes, grief sharing classes, and doing a lot of visiting and helping the elderly who were needy.
Earl and Effie Gene still live in the house that they built in 1961.