Irma Nelle Evans Erickson was born November 4, 1919 to Howard and Florence Evans on a farm near Avila, Missouri, and passed away August 13, 2014, ten weeks short of 95 years old. She married John Howard Erickson on February 20, 1944. They were married 51 years. John passed away July 4, 1995.
Irma went to Carthage High School and the University of Missouri, where she earned a degree in Home Economics. Irma and John were married in Columbia, Missouri, and then moved to Chicago, Illinois where John was stationed at Navy Pier during WWII. Irma worked as a dietitian for Illinois Bell, insuring that thousands of employees had nutritious meals despite war shortages. In 1946, John returned to the University of Missouri for a master degree and Irma worked as a home economist, teaching extension courses. Irma and John, with a newborn daughter, moved to Statesboro, Georgia where John taught at Georgia State Teacher’s College, now Georgia Southern University.
John earned a PhD during five summers at Pennsylvania State University. In 1956 the family moved to Carbondale, Illinois where he became a professor at Southern Illinois University. With her children all in school, Irma became an Academic Advisor at SIU, helping students choose courses and encouraging them to do their best. She especially enjoyed her foreign students and once advised a king. Even after moving back to her childhood home of Carthage following John’s death, Irma was an avid Saluki fan, especially basketball, where her team excelled.
What Irma loved most was raising her children, Victoria, Jim, and Krista. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she was an exceptional seamstress and cook, and loved to garden. She was always a lady: kind, nurturing, soft-spoken and willing to help. Irma was a deeply faithful Christian, and her faith was reflected in helping others. She served Meals on Wheels, worked at blood drives, and contributed countless dishes to church events. She served on the Board of Trustees at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage for twelve years. She also volunteered in the Mercy McCune Brooks Hospital gift shop in Carthage, retiring the day after her 91st birthday. She enjoyed playing bridge until her final days and staying in touch with loved ones via her computer. Irma died of natural causes two days after telling her doctor her biggest health problem was that she was 94 years old.
Irma is survived by two children, Victoria Smith and James Erickson, their spouses Larry Smith and Judy Erickson, five natural grandchildren, Lara Mondae, Amber Bozman, Christie Otis, Robert Erickson, and Brian Erickson, and five step-grandchildren, Angela Smith, Rebecca Hassett, Ron Smith, Cyndi Beck, and Alison Austen, plus 16 great grandchildren. Sisters, Ruth Ann Webb and Wilma Bevirt, sisters-in-law, Jan Evans and Betty Hobson, and husband of Wilma, Joe Bevirt, also survive her. In addition, Irma has 21 nephews and nieces, many living nearby. Irma and John’s daughter, Krista Schrader, died November 1995. Siblings preceding her in death are Edna Graham, Wayne Evans, Gladys Stiles, Glen Evans, Leon Evans, Eugene Evans, Bob Evans, and Thel Kissire.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the First United Methodist Church of Carthage to support Youth Ministries in care of the Ulmer Funeral Home. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Ulmer Funeral Home.Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Spring River Cemetery in Verona, Missouri.
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