Erma Luella Carrier November 7, 1914 – January 27, 2010

Our precious grandmother and friend passed away, leaving us with wonderful memories on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at Richland Gardens Care Center.

She was born in Castana, Iowa to George and Ruey Cooper. She married Ralph Reis in 1932, gave birth to her sons Bill and Jerry. Then together they moved to Yakima, WA. She lost Ralph in an unfortunate accident then eventually remarried Russ Carrier in 1937. In the early 1950’s they all arrived in the Tri-Cities where both Erma and Russ were employed at the LW Vail Co. Erma and Russ started Pavers Inc., paving, earthwork and utility company in 1963. Erma was accounts manager and bookkeeper until her retirement in 1986, after the death of Russ in 1974. She moved to Arizona in 2002 with her son Jerry and Jeannie and returned to Tri-Cites in 2009 upon the death of Jerry.

Her loves were many: her family, her friends, her dogs, race horses, reading, and quilting, gardening, and entertaining everyone with her gift of cooking. All who knew her, appreciated her kindness and generosity sprinkled with a beautiful sense of humor to the very end. Her intellect was fueled by her voracious appetite for reading and engaging conversations. She was treasured.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, her two sons and her brother Charles T. Cooper. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She is survived by a grateful extended family and many friends: Her grandsons, Jeff, Kyle, Jerry, Joshua and Patrick Reis; granddaughters, Teresa Reis-Schmidt and Julie Long; her great grandchildren; Justin, Conor, Liam and Sarah Reis, Jack Schmidt, Ryan Stewart, Taylor and Austin Long, Breanna Fjerstad, Tawny, Vanessa, Diesel and Gage; her three great-great grandchildren; Payton Reis, Jonathan and Kylie Stewart; widows of her sons, Bill and Jerry are, Marion Rees and Jeannie Merritt; very special friends include; sister-in-law; Margaret Stelling, Greg Belt, Annie Richards and Dona and Larry Belt.

A closed casket visitation will take place at Memories Sunset Event Center from 5:00pm-8:00pm on Thursday, February 4, 2010.

A funeral will be held for Erma on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 1:00pm at Memories at Sunset Event Center.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to your local Humane Society or Tri-City Chaplaincy for their loving hospice care.

Please join us as we celebrate a life well-lived.