Long time Alaskan Erma Lee Best passed away at the age of 91 on November 12th/ 2021, after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
Erma was born in Amber, OK on March 10, 1930, to William Estes and Hettie (Garrett) Estes. The third of six children born during the Great Depression in rural Oklahoma, Erma would regale the younger generation with talks of her young life experiences from the misery of picking cotton with Band-Aids on every finger/ to marriage at the age of 16 to her love of 51years/ Stanley Best who passed in 1997.
Erma and Stan remained close with Erma1S 3 brothers and 2 sisters and their spouses for those
51 years, taking cruises and trips together and frequently visiting between their homes in Oklahoma, Nevada/ California and Alaska. There was always laughter as they repeated their "remember when" stories while playing cards and dominoes around the kitchen table.
Erma never met a stranger and endeared herself to new acquaintances and old friends. She always put others' needs before her own and loved her family beyond measure. She never feared a challenge nor an opportunity to learn something new. She ran a concrete business with her husband, Stan in Sacramento while raising four children and going to beautician school, where she met her life¬ long friend Wanda. In 1966 the business moved to Alaska and Peninsula Ready-Mix was started in Nikiski. Erma worked that first summer at Kenai Packers Cannery and then became a school bus driver for the next 14 years. She was a car-pool mom and sat on bleachers over 60 years from her sons/ Little League Baseball/ football and basketball games and snowmachine races to her granddaughters' horse shows and barrel races to her great granddaughters' volleyball games and dance recitals.
Erma was a great cook but rarely followed a recipe, a fabulous seamstress, and an avid gardener. She loved animals and her and Stanley bred and raised miniature schnauzers and Arabian horses when they retired to California in 1981-1995. She was also a licensed dog groomer.
After Stanis death she general contracted the construction of her home on Cabin Lake, became a foster parent and joined the Red Hat Society. She liked to travel and spent winters in Tucson/ AZ and visiting family- always with a schnauzer along for company.
Our beloved Erma was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, daughter Starlene, brother Kenneth Estes, sisters Klova Dee Shaw and Joyce Martin, sisters-in-law Diana Estes and Mary Estes, Son¬ in-law Patrick Heath.
Erma is survived by sons Larry (Betty) Best of Nikiski, Terry (Julie) Best of Kenai/ daughter Sherry Heath of Soldotna/ son Larry (Nettie) Mecum of CA, brothers Leon Estes of CA and Donald Estes of Soldotna/ 11grandchildren/ 19 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and friend Wanda Wilhoit of CA.
An Estes family reunion is planned for Summer of 2022 at which time Erma's ashes will be placed with Stanlelsat McGahan Cemetery in Nikiski. No other services are planned.
Erma was born in Amber, OK on March 10, 1930, to William Estes and Hettie (Garrett) Estes. The third of six children born during the Great Depression in rural Oklahoma, Erma would regale the younger generation with talks of her young life experiences from the misery of picking cotton with Band-Aids on every finger/ to marriage at the age of 16 to her love of 51years/ Stanley Best who passed in 1997.
Erma and Stan remained close with Erma1S 3 brothers and 2 sisters and their spouses for those
51 years, taking cruises and trips together and frequently visiting between their homes in Oklahoma, Nevada/ California and Alaska. There was always laughter as they repeated their "remember when" stories while playing cards and dominoes around the kitchen table.
Erma never met a stranger and endeared herself to new acquaintances and old friends. She always put others' needs before her own and loved her family beyond measure. She never feared a challenge nor an opportunity to learn something new. She ran a concrete business with her husband, Stan in Sacramento while raising four children and going to beautician school, where she met her life¬ long friend Wanda. In 1966 the business moved to Alaska and Peninsula Ready-Mix was started in Nikiski. Erma worked that first summer at Kenai Packers Cannery and then became a school bus driver for the next 14 years. She was a car-pool mom and sat on bleachers over 60 years from her sons/ Little League Baseball/ football and basketball games and snowmachine races to her granddaughters' horse shows and barrel races to her great granddaughters' volleyball games and dance recitals.
Erma was a great cook but rarely followed a recipe, a fabulous seamstress, and an avid gardener. She loved animals and her and Stanley bred and raised miniature schnauzers and Arabian horses when they retired to California in 1981-1995. She was also a licensed dog groomer.
After Stanis death she general contracted the construction of her home on Cabin Lake, became a foster parent and joined the Red Hat Society. She liked to travel and spent winters in Tucson/ AZ and visiting family- always with a schnauzer along for company.
Our beloved Erma was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, daughter Starlene, brother Kenneth Estes, sisters Klova Dee Shaw and Joyce Martin, sisters-in-law Diana Estes and Mary Estes, Son¬ in-law Patrick Heath.
Erma is survived by sons Larry (Betty) Best of Nikiski, Terry (Julie) Best of Kenai/ daughter Sherry Heath of Soldotna/ son Larry (Nettie) Mecum of CA, brothers Leon Estes of CA and Donald Estes of Soldotna/ 11grandchildren/ 19 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and friend Wanda Wilhoit of CA.
An Estes family reunion is planned for Summer of 2022 at which time Erma's ashes will be placed with Stanlelsat McGahan Cemetery in Nikiski. No other services are planned.
Long time Alaskan Erma Lee Best passed away at the age of 91 on November 12th/ 2021, after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
Erma was born in Amber, OK on March 10, 1930, to William Estes and Hettie (Garrett) Estes. The third of six children born during the Great Depression in rural Oklahoma, Erma would regale the younger generation with talks of her young life experiences from the misery of picking cotton with Band-Aids on every finger/ to marriage at the age of 16 to her love of 51years/ Stanley Best who passed in 1997.
Erma and Stan remained close with Erma1S 3 brothers and 2 sisters and their spouses for those
51 years, taking cruises and trips together and frequently visiting between their homes in Oklahoma, Nevada/ California and Alaska. There was always laughter as they repeated their "remember when" stories while playing cards and dominoes around the kitchen table.
Erma never met a stranger and endeared herself to new acquaintances and old friends. She always put others' needs before her own and loved her family beyond measure. She never feared a challenge nor an opportunity to learn something new. She ran a concrete business with her husband, Stan in Sacramento while raising four children and going to beautician school, where she met her life¬ long friend Wanda. In 1966 the business moved to Alaska and Peninsula Ready-Mix was started in Nikiski. Erma worked that first summer at Kenai Packers Cannery and then became a school bus driver for the next 14 years. She was a car-pool mom and sat on bleachers over 60 years from her sons/ Little League Baseball/ football and basketball games and snowmachine races to her granddaughters' horse shows and barrel races to her great granddaughters' volleyball games and dance recitals.
Erma was a great cook but rarely followed a recipe, a fabulous seamstress, and an avid gardener. She loved animals and her and Stanley bred and raised miniature schnauzers and Arabian horses when they retired to California in 1981-1995. She was also a licensed dog groomer.
After Stanis death she general contracted the construction of her home on Cabin Lake, became a foster parent and joined the Red Hat Society. She liked to travel and spent winters in Tucson/ AZ and visiting family- always with a schnauzer along for company.
Our beloved Erma was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, daughter Starlene, brother Kenneth Estes, sisters Klova Dee Shaw and Joyce Martin, sisters-in-law Diana Estes and Mary Estes, Son¬ in-law Patrick Heath.
Erma is survived by sons Larry (Betty) Best of Nikiski, Terry (Julie) Best of Kenai/ daughter Sherry Heath of Soldotna/ son Larry (Nettie) Mecum of CA, brothers Leon Estes of CA and Donald Estes of Soldotna/ 11grandchildren/ 19 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and friend Wanda Wilhoit of CA.
An Estes family reunion is planned for Summer of 2022 at which time Erma's ashes will be placed with Stanlelsat McGahan Cemetery in Nikiski. No other services are planned.
Erma was born in Amber, OK on March 10, 1930, to William Estes and Hettie (Garrett) Estes. The third of six children born during the Great Depression in rural Oklahoma, Erma would regale the younger generation with talks of her young life experiences from the misery of picking cotton with Band-Aids on every finger/ to marriage at the age of 16 to her love of 51years/ Stanley Best who passed in 1997.
Erma and Stan remained close with Erma1S 3 brothers and 2 sisters and their spouses for those
51 years, taking cruises and trips together and frequently visiting between their homes in Oklahoma, Nevada/ California and Alaska. There was always laughter as they repeated their "remember when" stories while playing cards and dominoes around the kitchen table.
Erma never met a stranger and endeared herself to new acquaintances and old friends. She always put others' needs before her own and loved her family beyond measure. She never feared a challenge nor an opportunity to learn something new. She ran a concrete business with her husband, Stan in Sacramento while raising four children and going to beautician school, where she met her life¬ long friend Wanda. In 1966 the business moved to Alaska and Peninsula Ready-Mix was started in Nikiski. Erma worked that first summer at Kenai Packers Cannery and then became a school bus driver for the next 14 years. She was a car-pool mom and sat on bleachers over 60 years from her sons/ Little League Baseball/ football and basketball games and snowmachine races to her granddaughters' horse shows and barrel races to her great granddaughters' volleyball games and dance recitals.
Erma was a great cook but rarely followed a recipe, a fabulous seamstress, and an avid gardener. She loved animals and her and Stanley bred and raised miniature schnauzers and Arabian horses when they retired to California in 1981-1995. She was also a licensed dog groomer.
After Stanis death she general contracted the construction of her home on Cabin Lake, became a foster parent and joined the Red Hat Society. She liked to travel and spent winters in Tucson/ AZ and visiting family- always with a schnauzer along for company.
Our beloved Erma was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, daughter Starlene, brother Kenneth Estes, sisters Klova Dee Shaw and Joyce Martin, sisters-in-law Diana Estes and Mary Estes, Son¬ in-law Patrick Heath.
Erma is survived by sons Larry (Betty) Best of Nikiski, Terry (Julie) Best of Kenai/ daughter Sherry Heath of Soldotna/ son Larry (Nettie) Mecum of CA, brothers Leon Estes of CA and Donald Estes of Soldotna/ 11grandchildren/ 19 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and friend Wanda Wilhoit of CA.
An Estes family reunion is planned for Summer of 2022 at which time Erma's ashes will be placed with Stanlelsat McGahan Cemetery in Nikiski. No other services are planned.
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