Erma Trogdon

Erma Dee Nolan, the daughter of Robert Emmett Nolan and Parlee Elizabeth (Nichols) Nolan, was born September 8, 1923 on the family farm in the Wauhillau community near Stilwell, Oklahoma. She departed this life to be with her Lord and Savior on February 19, 2017 at the age of 93 years, 4 months and 11 days.

After graduating from Stilwell High School in 1942 Erma moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to live with an older sister's family and start her career as a long distance telephone operator with Southwestern Bell. On December 2, 1944 in Tulsa she married her high school sweetheart, William Jerry (Bill) Davidson who was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. After Bill's discharge from the Navy they moved back to the Stilwell area where Bill farmed and Erma cared for their two little girls who came along in quick succession. In 1952 the family relocated to Tulsa where Erma resumed employment with Southwestern Bell and Bill began his career with the Otasco Corporation. After eight years in Tulsa, transfers with Otasco took them to Springfield, Seneca and Everton, Missouri. Bill purchased an Otasco Associate Store in Seneca in 1963 and Erma worked side by side with Bill to grow their successful retail business, which they sold in 1972 and moved to a small farm in rural Everton.

Wherever they lived they tended enormous vegetable gardens, the bounty of which Erma preserved and canned, with plenty left over to share with friends and neighbors. She was a fabulous cook who perfected the art of baking delicious pies and cobblers. She enjoyed spoiling her daughters and sons-in-law by treating them to their favorite dinners and desserts. Erma and Bill loved to fish and traveled to well-known fishing venues and state parks in their fifth-wheel trailer.

Bill died unexpectedly on December 18, 1984 and Erma remained on the Everton farm until her marriage to retired dairy farmer, Jack Trogdon, on November 5, 1989, at which time she joined Jack in his home in rural Ash Grove, MO. Jack preceded her in death in September, 1994.

In 2004 Erma moved to the Wexford, an independent living complex for seniors in Loveland, CO near her daughter's family. At every new town she quickly joined a Southern Baptist Church. Her last membership was with Orchards Baptist in Loveland. Among many other things, Erma enjoyed road trips, playing chicken foot dominos, family gatherings and watching basketball. She was a die hard fan of the Denver Nuggets. She lived independently in her cozy apartment at the Wexford until just one month before her passing when an illness necessitated a move to a rehabilitation facility where she died peacefully with her daughter at her bedside.

Erma was preceded in death by her two husbands, Bill Davidson and Jack Trogdon; a daughter, Dr. Brenda Davidson Gavin on March 17, 2016, and nine siblings: Regenia Nolan Fink, Fate Nolan, Linzy "Cooney" Nolan, Edith Nolan Padgett, Birdie Hair Goss, Reba Hair Diss, Robert Nolan, Jake Nolan and Gene Nolan. Surviving are a daughter, Glenna Davidson Murdock and husband Jim of Loveland CO; a son-in-law, Dr. Laurence Gavin of Philadelphia, PA; one grandson, Zachary William Gavin, Philadelphia; one granddaughter, Megan Murdock Krischke and husband William, Durango CO; two great-grandchildren Flannery Rose Krischke and Soren Matthew Krischke of Durango and one brother, Emmett "Rosy" Nolan of Camarillo CA.

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