Erma Jean Shank Wood

Erma Jean Shank Wood died December 29, 2017 in Mineral Wells, Texas while surrounded by family members. She was born on March 11, 1927 to Howard Lewis and Neoma Ruth Lohrey Ficken on the family farm near Bison, Kansas. She attended Lone Star School, which was only a quarter of a mile from her farm home, through eighth grade. The land for this one room school was donated by her great grandfather, George Ficken. Erma was one of the many persons who helped clean and maintain this historic school and assisted with the documentation necessary for it to become registered as an historic landmark. She graduated from Bison Rural High School in 1945. She attended Kansas State University for two years before returning to Bison to marry her first love, Kenneth Loren Shank on August 4, 1948. Their daughter Myra was born while they farmed near Bison. Erma began her teaching career in a one room school north of Bison, then taught third and fourth grades at Timken School. She taught fifth and sixth grades at Bison Elementary while finishing her college degree from Fort Hays State College. Following consolidation, Erma taught for Otis-Bison schools until her retirement, touching generations of Rush county students. Erma retired from teaching for a couple of years, until one day when Superintendent Frank Randall stopped by to talk her into coming back to teach at the Middle School in Bison for a few more years. After 32 years of teaching in Rush County she was inducted into the Kansas Teacher Hall of Fame. Kenneth preceded her in death on March 8, 1973.Erma over the years belonged to many organizations including the Pricilla Club, Sunshine Extension Unit, and was a 4-H sewing leader. Erma enjoyed participating in plays in high school and continued to enjoy participating in productions whether it was for a local club meeting or the Bisontennial Celebration.Erma married Donald Paul Wood July 16, 1976. They enjoyed their camper and boat for many years and had time to travel following their retirement. For several years they traveled to Zapata, Texas for the winter months where they made many friends and enjoyed trying different craft techniques. Don preceded her in death on March 1, 2011. Erma moved to Mineral Wells to be near her family and particularly her only great-grandchild, her beloved Kendon in 2012.Erma is survived by her daughter Myra Lawrence and husband Randy of Mineral Wells, Texas. She is also survived by three granddaughters, Miranda Styborski and husband Brian, Mineral Wells, Texas; Christian Haney and husband Thomas, Corpus Christi, Texas; and Autumn Lawrence, and one great-grandson, Kendon Styborski. She is also survived by her sister Millie Hertel and husband Bob, Fort Worth, Texas; 13 nieces and nephews and numerous grand-nieces and nephews.Erma was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Neoma Ficken, her brother Wayne Ficken, and sister Eunice Ficken Edwards, her first husband Kenneth Shank, and husband Donald Wood.A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 31 at 2:00 pm. with Reverend Eric Douglas officiating. Erma will be laid to rest in Lone Star Cemetery near her childhood home in Bison, Kansas.Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church or the Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/texas