Erma Lee Heagle

Our wonderful mom, Erma Lee Heagle, 88, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 21, at home surrounded by loving family.

She was born Aug. 3, 1923, in Powell, Wyo., to Ernest Barnett and Ethel Ramsdill Barnett. She was fifth of four sisters and three brothers. They moved to Sarpy Creek area in Montana in 1927, where she attended school.

She was married to Henry Heagle on March 23, 1940, in Hardin, where they had their son, Jerry Dale. They moved to Billings Lockwood shortly after the birth of daughter, Joyce Elaine, in 1953 and remained until Henry passed away September of 1993.

In Hardin, Erma went from babysitting her nieces and nephews to waitress to factory worker in wartime. After moving to Billings, with her husband busy at Montana Power, she became active in the Lockwood Church, teaching Sunday school, working at the church Camp on the Boulder and serving on committees. She spent time making Rock-Animals and demonstrating Henry's food dehydration process. Many children in Joyce's childcare were blessed with Erma's love when she was substituting. When they weren't burning up the highway to see family in Hardin or California, Henry and Erma were camping, playing cards and Aggravation, bowling, and square dancing. After retirement, they would "snowbird" each winter to Quartzsite, Ariz., where she helped Henry sell his agate jewelry. When he died, she continued the pilgrimage on her own for a few years before moving into the South Forty Senior apartments, enjoying many good friends and the third-floor view. Finally, she came to live with her daughter and family to be treasured by them until her death.

She was preceded in death by her dear husband; her sisters Hazel Curry, Ione Prine, Genevieve Greenfield and Dixie Sharpe Mock; as well as brothers Jack Barnett and Robert Barnett.

She is survived by brother Miles Manzer (Judy), son Jerry Heagle (Mary), daughter Joyce Hein (John), daughter-in-law Jeanne Heagle, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, and she loved them all.

Celebration of Erma will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Smith's West Chapel on 34th Street West, with reception following at the Chapel.

Memorials could be made to the Big Horn County Historical Museum, Hardin, or Rocky Mountain Hospice.

Erma Heagle