Erma Crawford Obituary Erma Irene Crawford, 91, of Carthage, passed away at her home at 7:30 A.M. Thursday, February 25, 2016. Erma was born August 5, 1924, the daughter of Amos and Tresa (Callahan) Elliott in Bible Grove, Missouri. She attended LaPlata High School in LaPlata, Missouri graduating in 1942. She later attended Northeast Missouri College in Kirksville and went on to teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Missouri during WWII. On June 29, 1946, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Gerald N. Crawford, in Kirksville, Missouri. He preceded her in death in 2008. Erma was a woman of strong faith and was an active member of the First Christian Church (DOC) in Carthage and in the Disciple's Women and Seekers Sunday School class. She enjoyed quilting and was a member of the Hancock County Piecemaker's Club. A member of R.S.V.P. and the American Legion Auxiliary, Erma kept active in her Chair Exercise class and loved attending her grandchildrens' and great-grandchildrens' sporting events and other activities. Her positive spirit, gentleness and kindness were appreciated by all who knew her, including many patrons of Bill's Food Store in Carthage, where she worked for more than 39 years. Erma had a lifelong interest in learning about many aspects of the world around her, including current events. She was a great lover of plants and animals and an avid gardener. She brought a smile to the face of anyone who knew her. Erma is survived by her daughters, Joyce (Mike) Johnson of Princeton, Illinois and Debbie (Mike) Murphy of Carthage; her son, David (Maureen) Crawford of Carthage; seven grandchildren, Jill (John) Kocsis, Todd Johnson, Shane (Christine) Murphy, Ben (Andrea) Murphy, Jared (Shannon) Murphy, Jonathan Shumaker, and Sarah (Dave) Degarmo; twelve great-grandchildren, Evan, Noah and Drew Kocsis, Katelyn, Jackson and Nolan Murphy, Ireland, Liam, and Kerridan Murphy, Dexter Murphy, Dade Self and Owen Degarmo; one sister, Evelyn (Arnold) Castanier of Morris, Illinois, and two sisters-in-law, Marjorie Eitel of Kansas City, Missouri and Marilyn Cannaday of Overland Park, Kansas, as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, February 29, 2016 at the First Christian Church (DOC) in Carthage with burial to follow in Moss Ridge Cemetery in Carthage. Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 8:00 P.M. Sunday evening at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with family meeting friends from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. Memorials may be directed to the First Christian Church (DOC) of Carthage, or to the Erma Crawford Memorial to be used for the improvement of facilities for Senior Fitness at Memorial Hospital and at the Hancock County Health Department. Printy Funeral Home of Carthage is in charge of arrangements. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, February 29, 2016: at First Christian Church in Carthage, Illinois Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 8:00 P.M. Sunday evening with family meeting friends from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M.: at Printy Funeral Home, Carthage, Illinois