Erma Johannes

Erma L. Johannes, 74, of Jackson, passed away Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, at St. Anthony's de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis, after a courageous 53-year battle with Crohn's disease.

She was born July 24, 1941, in St. Louis to Charles Edwin and Betty Mae Goforth Jumper. She and James M. Johannes were married Aug. 19, 1961, in St. Louis.

Erma graduated from Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri, in 1959. Erma and her husband started Johannes Auto Sales, Inc. in Jackson in May 1963. She and Jim worked together in the family business until her retirement in 2003. Erma was truly a one-of-a-kind woman. She was strong-willed and fought her disease with courage and grace. Erma's family was the most important thing in the world to her. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend to many. No matter how bad she felt, she got up, got dressed and attended activities for her daughter, and in later years, her grandchildren's activities, too. She never let her health hold her back. Erma lived life to the fullest and was known to dress in animal-print clothes with lots of "bling."

Loving survivors include her husband of 54 years; a daughter, Donna (Don) Schuette of Jackson; two grandchildren, Lauren Schuette and Hunter Schuette, both of Jackson; one great-granddaughter, Annalyn Sisk of Jackson; two brothers, C. Ernest "Ernie" Jumper of High Ridge, Missouri, and Larry Jumper of Greenville, Missouri; one sister, Joan Morris of Bandera, Texas; and a number of loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Lloyd Jumper.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Entombment will follow in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be made to St. Anthony's de Greeff Hospice House, 10024 Kennerly Road, St. Louis, MO 63128.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting McCombs Funeral Homes website at mccombsfuneralhome.com.

McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.