Erma Shields Mathews passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Pine Canyon, Utah.
The first of twin daughters and the eldest daughter of Don Carlos and Eva Sagers Shields, Erma was born in Pine Canyon on Sept. 6, 1923. She celebrated her 100th birthday last year with more than 100 family members and friends in attendance, "the best day of my life," Erma said.
She was proud to be a member of the Governor's Centenarian Club. She said her secret to a long life includes "keeping busy, avoiding alcohol, drugs, and smoking, avoiding soda, keeping a healthy diet and treating people kindly. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be happy. Don't gossip. Be friendly."
Erma met the handsome Willard "Butch" Mathews at a baseball game in Tooele while Butch was on leave from the Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Clover. During courtship, Erma converted Butch to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were married in Pine Canyon on July 22, 1941, and sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on Nov. 4, 1942.
They built their home next door to the house Erma was raised in, and they never moved again. That's where they raised their five children.
Grammy was very talented. She used those talents to shower her children and grandchildren with many homemade Christmas presents including paintings, ceramics, dolls, quilts, clothing, and more. In her spare time, Grammy loved dancing and assembling jigsaw puzzles.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her whole life, Erma served in many church callings, including Relief Society President, Young Women Advisor, Primary First Counselor, and Ward Music Director, a calling she loved and held for approximately 50 years, including when she switched to using her left arm to lead the music after she fell and shattered her right shoulder. Erma and Butch also served as ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple for 11 years, up until Butch's passing in 1992.
Erma was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her siblings Thurman Shields, Elma Kuester, and Betty Castagno; daughter-in-law Melody Mathews;, grandchildren April Carpenter and Brett Mathews; and great-grandsons Kendall and Kaden Rogers.
She is survived by her children Terry (Sallie), Dean (Karma), Bonnie (Dean) Rogers, Craig, and Rick (Tami) Mathews; and 18 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Erma's family wishes to express their immense gratitude to her caregiver, Kerri Stoddard, and her husband Mack, who made it possible for Erma to comfortably remain at her home for most of her final days, and to the hospice nurses for their professional guidance, to her many neighbors and friends who frequently visited her, and to Tate Mortuary.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at the Lakeview Ward Building on Churchwood Road in Pine Canyon beginning with a viewing from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. The funeral will begin at noon. Interment will be at what Erma called "the most beautiful cemetery," the Tooele City Cemetery. Livestream will be available on Erma's obituary page at tatemortuary.com.