Erma Mary Gaas

Erma Mary Heine Gaas left this Earth peacefully to join her heavenly family and rest in the arms of the Lord at the age of 98 on September 28, 2025.

She was born on March 5, 1927, in Somerville, Texas to William B. Heine and Lillie Schoppe Heine. Erma attended Birch School and worked with her family mercantile and cotton gin business in her early years. She was married to Richard Eddie Gaas on June 28, 1947, and remained with him for 65 years until his death. She had two children Richard Ronald (Ronnie) Gaas and Peggy Ann Gaas Stevens.

Possessing the same pioneer spirit as her parents, Erma and her husband Richard opened their business, Gaas Refrigeration in 1962. After selling the business to their son in 1974, she continued to work with her son until her retirement in February 2006. She was known to be a quiet and virtuous woman, but she was a savvy business woman, a dedicated and an intricate part of Gaas Refrigeration and its operation.

Erma loved to cook and always had lunch and dessert for anyone who stopped by the house. She worked in her garden and mowed her yard well into her mid 90’s. She enjoyed her vegetable and flower gardens. Even when she could no longer help with the gardens, she enjoyed multiple daily walks outside to see how her vegetables were growing.

She was a Christian and honorable woman and never guilty of gossip or envy. She would never reveal any confidence given to her. Erma enjoyed looking at old photographs (as long as she wasn’t in the pictures) and talking about the way things “use to be”.

Erma was a founding member of the Faith Church of Christ in Bryan where she attended over the course of many years and made certain her family followed her lead. She was faithful to the Lord and never failed to give thanks before each meal. Even as her age crept in and abilities faded, she always repeated a blessing she learned early in life.…” Come Lord Jesus be Thou our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed”. Her favorite bible verse was the 23rd Psalm.

During her time on this Earth, her family found her to be one of their greatest blessings. Her strong will power and perseverance continued throughout her life and she always put her trust in the Lord.

Erma was dedicated to her family. She always pitched in to help when any of her family members needed her. She never wanted to be the last member of her family to pass away, but God had other plans for her. She was the last survivor of her family of eight brothers and sisters and loved them all dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, daughter Peggy, parents, two brothers Jesse Heine and J.W. Heine, five sisters Imogene Havemann, Mary Dene Schultz, Doris Ann Kovar, Pat Houdek and Helen Heine as well as their spouses.

She is survived by her son Ronnie Gaas and wife Cathy of Calvert, Texas, two grandsons Michael Powell and wife Katie of Dallas, Texas, Joshua Powell and wife Ashley of Franklin, Texas, four great grandsons and one great granddaughter, one great great-granddaughter and, one great great-grandson, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and her extended family, Julie and Raymond Ramirez, and Raymond Ramirez, Jr.

A special recognition and thank you, in addition to the Rameriz family, goes to Clara Ortega, Dianne Grimes, Patricia Zuniga and Lorrie Hard who lovingly assisted with her care. In addition, the family wishes to express their appreciation to her physician Dr. James Bonds and her former physician Dr. Stephen Tseng as well as the staff of Traditions Health Hospice Care – College Station who assisted with her care during her final days.

Visitation and services for Erma will be conducted under the supervision of Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 1:00pm with a Memorial Service following at 1:30pm. She will then be taken to her final resting place at Birch Cemetery in Birch, Texas. There she will be laid to rest between her beloved husband, Richard and daughter Peggy following the service.

Reverand Dale Wells, Pastor of Elliott Baptist Church will officiate.

Honoring her and serving as pallbearers: Joshua Powell, Michael Powell, Raymond Ramirez Jr., Jim Junek, Rex Vickers and James Hard. Honorary pallbearers Rick Houdek, Ty Rampy and Raymond Rameriz, Sr.

Anyone wishing to honor her memory in lieu of flowers are asked to make a donation to Traditions Health Hospice Care, 1103 Rock Prairie Rd, Suite 2051B, College Station, TX 77845 or a charity of their choice.