Erma Dean Forrester, age 95, passed away on July 16, 2022 at home in Nixa, MO, with family by her side. Erma was born Sept. 3, 1926 in Overland Park, KS, she was the only child of Ernest and Della Glauser. She is preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Warren Frank Forrester(deceased 2019). Both Erma and Frank attended grade school through high school in Ozark, MO. It has been said that "Frankie intentionally flunked 1st grade so that he would be in Erma's class the following year." She was that beautiful and captivating already at six years old. Their love story endured and they were married on Aug. 19, 1943. On Aug. 19, 2018 they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. Together they survived World War II, multiple cross country moves and raising three children. Frank's federal government job moved the family from MO to CA-TX-Washington DC and several states in between. In 1975 upon retirement, Frank and Erma returned to the Ozarks they loved.

Erma was the bedrock of the family. A wonderful wife, mother, and homemaker, she always delivered on her promises and chocolate chip cookies. She put her heart and soul into loving and caring for her family, whether it was feeding you, chauffeuring you, cleaning up after you, healing you, or crisis intervention, she had you covered. Grandchildren were included as well. Being a mother was Erma Dean's gift, and she did it better than anyone with joy, love, and grace. And it didn't just include humans. Hannah was Erma's Jack Russell Terrier and constant companion for thirteen years. They walked hundreds of miles together, much of it on Florida beaches looking for seashells.

Erma is survived by her three children, Frank D. Forrester, Ozark, MO, Cindy Hicks Marcus (Bruce) Alachua, FL, and John David Forrester (Connie) Ozark, MO, five grandchildren; Heather May, Terre Haute, IN, Casey Cancilla (Todd) Redding, CA, Brandi Miller (Floyd) Miller, MO, Ryan Forrester, Nixa, MO, and Brittany Gantry, North Richland Hills, TX. Also surviving are eight great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and three nieces Amy, Sarah, and Christy.

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Warren Frank Forrester, and her grandson, Mark Christopher Hicks.

Erma would be the first to tell you she had a wonderful life. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Visitation will be on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home from 2:00-4:00 pm. All family and friends are invited.