Gaye Erickson 1934 - 2017

ERICKSON, COOKMAN, ROBERTS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/24/2017 at 09:25:58

Sioux City Journal
18 June 2017

Gaye Erickson, 83, of Sioux City, passed away on Monday, June 12, 2017, at a local nursing home.

According to her wishes, she will be cremated and no service is planned. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Gaye was born March 28, 1934, in Randolph, Neb., to Glenn and Estella (Cookman) Roberts, the second of their five children. She graduated from East High School in 1952 and lived in Sioux City most of her life. Gaye married William J. "Jim" O’Malley on March 30, 1954; that marriage ended in December 1957. She married Richard Erickson on Dec. 4, 1965; that marriage ended in 1969.

Gaye was a dedicated single parent, working full-time, who set high standards for herself and her daughters. Her mother, who also worked full-time, was a tremendous help raising the girls. Gaye’s situation was very challenging because she had a condition, narcolepsy, which probably began in high school and was undiagnosed until the late 1960s. This condition caused her to fall asleep abruptly and unexpectedly in almost any situation and struggle to stay awake during the day. The disease changed her life in so many ways - even when she was diagnosed and treated. It made it nearly impossible for her to read books, watch a full television program, enjoy a movie or the scenery while traveling.

Gaye loved seeing and helping with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always ready to color or play a game or take them to the park. She enjoyed having their pictures surrounding her and watching Facebook videos of them.

Gaye enjoyed mental activities like working crossword puzzles and other word and number puzzles, playing cards and games like Scrabble. If not for having narcolepsy, Gaye who enjoyed writing poetry, likely would have written songs.

Gaye enjoyed socializing and quickly became friends to many people she met. She never met a stranger. She used her socializing skills to obtain rewards and gifts to recognize volunteers of various organizations. She loved her East High class of 1952 reunions and was already looking forward to one this September. In past years, she would work hard to help find the missing classmates and always loved catching up on classmate news. She was a good and loyal friend to many.

Gaye is survived by her daughters, Kim Lansford of Arlington, Texas, Star Safi (Hussein) of Long Beach, Calif., and Susan Paul (Joe Dornbusch) of North Sioux City; her grandchildren, Munira Safi, Sharif Safi, Satasha Paul (Sherrod Grant) and Bryer Paul; her great-grandchildren, Drake Paul, Sylas Grant and Melvyn Ordonez; her sisters, Glenna (William) Simons of Cheyenne, Wyo., Gloria Griffith (Jarrett) of Sioux City, and Glea Bohan (Thomas) of Hoover, Ala.; and brother, Garry Roberts (Kim) of Las Vegas, Nev.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and sons-in-law, William Lansford and Bryan Paul.

In lieu of flowers, we suggest a donation to Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St, Sioux City, IA 51104 or online www.connectionsaaa.org. The transportation and senior companion programs were two programs of great benefit to Gaye.