Ernie grew up in Shoshoni and Casper, Wyoming. While in High School, Ernie volunteered with the Evansville Wyoming Fire Department and the Evansville Police Department as a Police Cadet Explorer. He graduated from High School in Casper, Wyoming in 1983.
After moving to Colorado, Ernie worked as a security guard for numerous security companies. Some of his work took place at RTD. It was there where he saved the life of an unconscious woman in the parking lot. He also did security at the Denver Nature and Science Museum (which he said was haunted). Ernie earned several awards while being a security guard.
Ernie worked in many places during his long and storied Emergency Medical Services (EMS) career, gathering new, ‘self-adopted,’ brothers and sisters wherever he went. He started his career by volunteering with Broomfield Ambulance. Ernie worked at Presbyterian Saint Lukes Hospital as an EMT Transporter and then in the Emergency Department. He worked at Columbia Mobile Intensive Care. He worked for Rural Metro Ambulance in Aurora, where he was Paramedic of the year in 2001. He taught EMS at Aurora Community College as well as Front Range Community College in Longmont. Ernie found what would be his final home for his career at American Medical Response in Longmont working alongside Longmont Fire. Ernie was awarded many life-saving awards in Longmont. During that time, he also volunteered with Galeton Fire Protection District as their EMS Training Officer and worked Part-time with Fort Morgan ambulance.
Ernie married Lisa, and they later divorced. In 2005, Ernie met Gail, the true love of his life, and they married in 2010 in a small mountain ceremony with Chief Vandy as the officiant.
Ernie loved hunting, camping, and fishing. He was an avid fly fisherman and tied his own flies. He loved sharing his flies with others. He was always putting together a box for someone else to use, sharing his love of fishing. Ernie and Gail went on many camping trips together, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. He truly loved being outdoors. Many of his hunting trips included, ‘taking his bow for a walk,’ through the woods! He may not have gotten anything, but he still enjoyed his time there.
Ernie is proceeded in death by his Father Ernest E. Yadon, his Mother Bessie Yadon, Sister Michele Fergison, Half-Brother Dan Yadon, Half-Sister Vickie, Half-Sister Eulanne Ayers, Father-in-Law, Kenneth Way, as well as some of his EMS family.
Ernie is survived by his Wife Gail, his Half-Sister Elaine Renfro (Art), Stepdaughter Sharmell Cheney, Stepson Wayne Cheney III (Melissa), Mother-in-Law Donna Way, Brother-in-Law Monte Way (Cheryl), Brother-in-Law Charles Way, Brother-in-Law Craig Way (Alison), Sister-in-Law Lori Way, seven Grandchildren, three Great-Grandchildren, numerous Nieces, and Nephews, and many, ‘self-adopted,’ EMS family members.
A funeral service for Ernest will be held Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 10:00 AM at LifeBridge Christian Church, 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont, Colorado 80504.
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