Erma Bodine

At five feet two inches tall, Erma made up for her small stature with a sassy disposition and sense of humor. She was always in her element when there was someone to quip or joke around with.

Erma was born on October 17, 1920, in Woodruff, Arizona, before the small town had electricity or running water. As the second of eight children born to Harold Reidhead Fish and Ellen Hatch, she helped care for her younger siblings and especially enjoyed mothering her youngest sisters, Carol and Lorraine.

As a member of a large family living during the Great Depression, Erma was resourceful and sewed her and her younger sisters’ clothes, a skill that would serve her well when raising her own family. In addition to being a talented seamstress, she was a remarkable crocheter, knitter and tatter (lace).

Music brought great joy throughout Erma’s life! Entertainment in the Fish home consisted of everyone gathering around the piano, Erma’s father playing the violin or another instrument, and lots of singing. She learned to play the piano at a young age from her Aunt Mary and became an exceptional pianist and organist.

She played for her church congregation throughout her life, even after the age of 100. She would often tell others that most musicians can play a song technically, but not all played with feeling as she did. Her love of music endures as she taught several of her grandchildren to play the piano, who then taught their children and now her great-granddaughter teaches her siblings and cousins.

Erma married Warren Oliver Bodine in the Mesa Arizona Temple on November 20, 1940. She and Warren raised six children: Mary Ellen (Bo), Jerry, Robert (Bob), Norma (Nonie), William (Butch) and Jon.  She often said that her happiest time in life was when all her children were living at home.

Erma loved babies! She insisted on holding them and would light up whenever a baby was around. She also crocheted or knitted countless legacy blessing dresses, onesies and blankets for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A highlight of Erma’s life was traveling with Warren. Their adventures took them to Europe multiple times and to Hong Kong and Mexico. She also loved all things miniature and at one time in her life built a Victorian doll house complete with furnishings. She was also a prolific craft painter in the mediums of ceramics, plaster craft and wood. For many years she painted Christmas ornaments for her children and grandchildren to cherish.

When her youngest children were in high school, Erma worked as a decorator in JC Penney’s drapery department. She found enjoyment helping people furnish their homes with traditional and unique window treatments.

Following Warren’s untimely death in 1980, Erma became actively involved in the Latter-day Saint Special Interest (SI) Program for older adults and attended events, dances and conferences. It was at a SI dance that she met fellow musician Clare Wheeler Oliphant. They were married in August 1983. She and Clare hosted sing-a-longs, crafted together, traveled in their fifth wheel RV and found loving companionship with each other for nearly 15 years prior to Clare’s death in 1998.

During her nearly 105 years, Erma saw many changes in the world. However, one constant was her life-long devotion to Jesus as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even with the debilitating effects of dementia, she attended church regularly and never forgot to vocally express appreciation for her blessings in her evening prayers.

Erma passed away on September 26, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. Her family is confident she is rejoicing to be reunited with her husband Warren, son Bob, infant son James (Jimmy), parents, siblings, granddaughter Nicolle Bodine Rowley, great-grandson Mason Rowley, and aunts and uncles. Her surviving posterity includes her children; Mary Ellen Kerr (Bob, deceased), Jerry (Netina), daughter-in-law Diane, Nonie Lee (John), William (Delynn) and Jon (Kendra), 25 grandchildren, 89 great-grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren.

Erma’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to her many friends, neighbors, and caregivers who supported her with such kindness in her later years. She found joy in the company of others, and your love and care truly enriched her life.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.