Erma Warner

Erma Eliza Warner age 99, of Tucson, AZ, passed away suddenly Friday, March 17, 2017 at her home.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Robert Nystrom officiating.  Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.

Erma was born in Elsie, MI on August 23, 1917 the daughter of Roy and Bessie (Dunham) Warner.  She graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1936 then went to County Normal. She attended Central Michigan University and in the fall of 1937 she started her teaching career. She received her masters degree from the University of Arizona. Erma taught school for 69 years and retired in 2006. This was a record for the State of Arizona and the school district named a school building in her honor.  She was a member of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona.

She is survived by sister Leota (Stewart) Kajdas of Elsie, MI, nieces: Susan (Kajdas) and Robert Peterson; Diane (Kajdas) and Douglas Saylor; Dawn Kajdas; nephews: Ronald Kajdas; Robert and Catherine Warner; great nieces: Kristina (Peterson) and Ryan Brunworth; Sara (Peterson) and Daniel Van Dewater; Erin (Saylor) and Matthew Ryan; Nicole (Warner) and Brandon Swinsick; Rachel Warner; Tammie (Johnston) and Tom Wolfe; great nephews: Kevin and Lisa Peterson; Paul Peterson; Cory Sheldon; Douglas Saylor; Joseph and Jenny Johnston; and Jeffrey Johnston.  She is also survived by her great great nieces and nephews:  Samantha & Melissa Wolfe; Mason, Brady, Logan, Brunworth; Lauren & Kelsey Peterson; Connor & Emma Van Dewater; Malin Ryan, Morgan & Finnegan Johnston, and special friends: Jeffery Frauenfeld, Robert & Esperanza Dominguez and Julia Contreras.  She was predeceased by her father Roy Warner; her parents Asa & Bessie (Dunham) Stewart; brother and sister in law Charles & Doris Warner; sister and brother in law Retha & George Day; brother in law Stanley Kajdas; niece Barbara Johnston and her husband Joseph.

Memorials may be made to Elsie United Methodist Church.  Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com  The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI.