Ernest D. Hart

Mr. Ernest D. Hart, 80, of Buena Vista, GA, passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Piedmont Columbus Regional – Midtown in Columbus, GA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Buena Vista Methodist Church with Rev. David Hibberts and Rev. David Chapman officiating. Burial will follow the service in Buena Vista Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 5:00-7:00PM at Way-Watson Funeral Home in Buena Vista, GA and other times at the home of Darrie Hart.

Mr. Hart was born at home in Buena Vista, GA, on October 3, 1944, to Ernest Drane and Myrtle Harvey Hart. A lifelong resident of Marion County, he graduated from Marion County High School in 1962. He was a lifelong peanut farmer and purchased his family farm in 1965 after the death of his father. For 35 years, he was the owner and operator of E. D. Hart Farms. During his farming years, he was involved in all the day-to-day operations of running the farm. From maintaining and operating farm equipment to planting, cultivating, spraying, plowing, Mr. Hart harvested wheat, corn, soybeans, and peanuts as well as other crops. He also managed a cattle herd as well as a 150 sow and pig operation. After making the decision to sell the farm in 1998, he went on to work for Buena Vista Forest Seedlings, Junction City Mining Company, and Fresh Plants, Inc. In 2006, he took a position as a Maintenance Technician at Fort Benning with the United States Army Marksmanship Unit.

Mr. Hart loved being out in nature and could often be found fishing, hunting, or searching for arrowheads. He also loved to garden and grow things. Mr. Hart liked to prove he could do anything. He loved to fix things and was a great mechanic - both of which he thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. Hart loved his family dearly as well as Marion County. He served on many boards and committees throughout his lifetime, including 17 years with the Marion County Board of Education, 12 of those years serving as Chairman, the Marion County Tax Assessors Board, Member of Marion County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Former President of the Marion County Farm Bureau, and Marion County Member of the Gold Kist Board. A great storyteller, he would often embellish the many stories he enjoyed sharing with his family and friends. He was a member of Buena Vista Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Drane Hart Wight and Bill Wight.

He is survived by the love of his life, Evelyn D. Hart, his wife of 58 years; and his son, Darrie Clyde Hart, both of Buena Vista, GA; a sister and brother-in-law, Mariola and Wayne Cosby of Kathleen, GA; by four grandchildren, Taylor Grace Hart, Carson Hart, Blake and Lisa Aultman, and Chase and Lauren Fox; and by three great-grandchildren, Thomas Creed Aultman, Olivia Fox and Sawyer Fox. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Memorials may be made to Buena Vista Methodist Church, Buena Vista Cemetery, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Those serving as pallbearers are Chris Cosby, David Cosby, Gene Milton, Rex Mitchell, Berry Teele, Ray Rustin, Gary Powell, Blake Aultman, Ken Singleton, and Cliff Sizemore.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Blue, Sims Benson, Sr., Sam Rigdon, Sr., Bobby Jones, Jimmy Howell, Brick Wells, Paul Davis, Ricky McCorkle, Robbie McCorkle, Randy McCorkle, Gene Clark, Charles Coffee, Ted Rover, and Donnie Powell.

Way-Watson Funeral Home, 1052 Dr. Deryl Hart Road, Buena Vista, Georgia has been entrusted with these arrangements.