WILSON, Erma J.

WILSON, BARKLEY, GEORGE, FERRIN, MCEVOY

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 11/7/2006 at 16:01:48

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Monday, November 6, 2006

Erma J. Wilson, 97, of Cherokee, died Oct. 28, 2006, at 9:25 p.m. in the Cherokee Villa Nursing & Rehab Center.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist in Cherokee. Rev. Ray Hampton officiated and burial was at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. Preceding the funeral, there was a family prayer service at 10:45 a.m. at the church. Visitation was Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the family present from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee.

Wilson and her twin sister Elma were born on Sept. 8, 1909 in Pierson, to Howard & Maude Barkley, being one of two sets of twins born to this couple. She graduated from Pierson High School and received her teaching credentials from the Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls.

She was married to Kenneth L. Wilson Sr. on June 20, 1936 in Fort Dodge. There were three children born to this marriage, Lowell, Robert, and Julie. They moved from Iowa to Denver, Colo., where they lived during the 1940's and early 50's then they returned to Cherokee to live the rest of their lives. She retired from a career as an Elementary school teacher, teaching mainly in Cherokee and Marcus. She was active in her church circle, teachers' groups, was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and P.E.O. Erma and Ken were longtime members of the St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

She and her husband moved from their home in the Fishman Addition to the Cherokee Villa in 1998. Her husband passed away on Sept. 23, 2004.

Erma and her twin sister Elma had beautiful singing voices and were known to sing at many events during their youth. She loved to be teased by her children and the laughter will be greatly missed. Her favorite night of the week was Saturday, when she enjoyed listening to Lawrence Welk.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and three sisters.

She is survived by two sons and a daughter: Lowell Wilson and his wife Judy of Granger; Robert Wilson and his wife Barbara of Morrison, Colo.; Julie George and her husband Tom of Tempe, Ariz.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law Ermal Ferrin of Denver, Colo. who is 93 years old and a first cousin Fran McEvoy of Des Moines.