Mary Lillian “Lil” Ernst, 92, of Lusby, MD passed away on August 14, 2018 at Solomons Nursing Center.

Born November 9, 1925 in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of the late Herbert Sunderland Gaither and Cora Amanda (Pickett) Gaither.

Lil graduated from Catonsville High School in 1944. She moved to Lusby, MD from Beltsville, MD in 1982 and was a homemaker. Lil was an avid community volunteer, and was a member of Olivet United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 274, Prince George’s Cedarettes and Chesapeake Ranch Estates Homemakers.

Lil is survived by her children and their spouses, Michael and Brenda Ernst of Winchester, VA and Robert and Tracey Ernst of Chesapeake Beach, MD; her son in law, Robert Matters of Lusby, MD; and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband George Blake Ernst in 2010, whom she married in Fort Madison, IA on April 9, 1947; her daughter, Carol Ann Matters; and siblings, Herbert Gaither, Jr., John Gaither and Mabel Sidaway.

Family will receive friends on Friday, August 17, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. with a Funeral Service following at 10:30 a.m. at Olivet United Methodist Church, 13570 Olivet Road, Lusby, MD 20657. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Poplar Springs UMC Cemetery, 915 Watersville Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ryan Ernst, Rusty Kerr, Chris Matters, Michael Matters, Jae Yi, and Jeremy Dove.

Memorial contributions may be made to Olivet United Methodist Church, 13570 Olivet Road, Lusby, MD 20657.