Ernest Lee Jacobsen, age 77, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, May 5 after a sudden decline in his health. His wild generosity, sense of humor, and passionate spirit leave a tremendous hole in the hearts of all who knew him.

Ernie is survived by his spouse, Donna; children Matt (Kellie) Jacobsen and Niki (Patrick) Torres; grandchildren Maya, Charis, Zain, and Story; younger sister, Reba (Bob) Triplett, nieces Gina (Cory) Fremont and Jill (Johan) Kinberg; devoted life partner, Tonya VanNoy; her children Anna and Kyle VanNoy; Tonya's parents Kenneth and Janiece Moore; Tonya's siblings Greg Moore, Sonia (Chris) Chastang; Christi (Mike) Franks, a host of nieces and nephews, and a multitude of loyal friends. He is predeceased by his father and mother, Clyde and Betty Jacobsen; and beloved grandparents, Joe and Fern Johnson.

Ernie was born on May 4, 1947, and grew up on farms in Idaho and Washington. Even as a young person, he had that 'Ernie spark': One time, while walking through a field of cheatgrass, he tried to light a match on his jeans "like the cowboys on TV", and he started a fire that almost burned down all the crops surrounding his small town. In fifth grade, Ernie sold his beloved horse in order to have the money to buy his first motorcycle, and he never looked back.

Ernie attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, where he excelled as a wrestler and jokester. He graduated in 1965, and after spending only a couple of years teaching history to high schoolers, he blazed a path of entrepreneurship that he would follow the rest of his life. Ernie was a part of many business ventures, selling everything from lipstick to condos to fertilizer. In 1975, he took an opportunity to move to Columbus, Mississippi and try his hand at a fast food chain he had never heard of called Sonic Drive-In. Over the next 50 years, this area became home, as well as a springboard for his many exploits and adventures.

Ernie was an avid hunter and biker. He cared deeply about his family, often checking in on them to make sure they had what they needed. He loved hearing and telling funny stories and took tremendous joy from being surrounded by friends and family, as well as being close to the water. No one could have a good time like Ernie, and he loved giving those around him a good time as well. In 2019, these passions came out in a new way as a dream of building a tiny house compound began to materialize over a meal: He wrote his vision on a napkin, like so many of his dreams before. Over the last five years, he has loved bringing friends and family together at the tiny houses for boating, parties, holidays, and all sorts of get-togethers. They have been a source of solace and fun, allowing him to make new friends and host so many loved ones.

Ernie has gone to be with the Lord and until we see him again, we're sure he's saying, "I'll just wait right here."

A celebration of life service will be held for Ernie on Thursday, May 9 at Plymouth Bluff at 2200 Old W Point Road in Columbus, MS. Visitation is from 2:00-3:00pm with the service to follow.