Sometimes I wonder if despite Vern's bitterness towards Ernest, if Ernest actually prolonged Vern's life? It's clear in several commercials that Vern apparently doesn't take very good care of him: Ernest had to pull out of oneVern's teeth, he's made countless efforts to get Vern to drink diet colas and skim milk, he did an anti-smoking PSA to get Vern to give up cigarettes, he did a don't drink and drive PSA offering to drive a drunk Vern home (after he kept trying to unlock the wrong car), etc.
Onething you can say about Ernest, his intentions are always earnest.