Obituary of Erma Jo (Josephine) McKay

Erma Jo (Josephine) McKay, devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Friday, January 9th, 2015 in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Erma was surrounded by all her surviving children at the time of her death at the age of 85. She was born on May 23, 1929 in Carthage, MO. to Joseph and Sarah Watkins. Erma was preceded in death by her husband Don and eldest son Kevin. Erma is survived by her five children and their spouses: Sharon (Jess) Flores, Jerry (Terry) McKay, Dennis (Barbara) McKay, Theresa (Ken) Houchin and Brian (Dawn) McKay; and her 23 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; a sister, Juanita White and several nieces and nephews. Born the tenth of thirteen children, Erma grew up in Carthage, MO. Her family relocated to Pasadena, CA in 1943 where her mother, Sarah, worked for Lockheed Aircraft during the war. Erma attended William McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena CA, graduating in 1945. She married the love of her life, Don L. McKay, on September 3, 1948 in Pasadena, CA. She was baptized into the Catholic faith on March 2, 1951. Erma and Don moved to La Habra, CA in 1955 where they lived and were happily married for 36 years, raising their six children, until her husband's untimely death at the age of 64. Erma lived in La Habra, CA for 54 years, from 1955 - 2009 before moving to Post Falls, ID. She attended Fullerton evening High School and received her diploma in 1969. Shortly thereafter she worked for the East Whittier School District as a Special Ed Teacher, retiring after 30+ years with a service pension. Working with special needs children was Erma's passion. She was also devoted to the care of her oldest son Kevin until he passed away, at the age of 63, in 2013. During her time in La Habra, Erma was a member of the Emblem Club of La Habra where she was involved in many community service projects. She also loved spending time with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Erma was a member at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic church in La Habra, CA and Our Lady of the Angels church in Arcadia, CA. She was also a member of St Joan of Arc Catholic Church while in Coeur d' Alene, ID. She instilled a deep faith in her family by her daily examples of charity toward others and her devotion to the Catholic faith. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and let perpetual light shine upon her. A rosary will be said on Tuesday, January 13th at 7pm at Bell Tower Funeral Home, 3398 E. Jenalan Ave., Post Falls ID 83854. A traditional Roman Rite Requiem Mass and service will be held on Wednesday, January 14th at 9 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 773 North 11th Street, Coeur d'Alene ID 83814. On Wednesday, January 21st, there will be viewing from 9am – 11am at the Queen of Heaven Mortuary, Rowland Heights CA. A traditional Catholic burial and interment will follow at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Right To Life https://www.nrlc.org/donate/ or the Special Olympics http://www.specialolympics.org/