Sowers, Erma Conner
Erma Conner Sowers, 96, of Check, Va., passed away Saturday, March 11, 2006.
She was born October 10, 1909 in Floyd County, Va., to the late Andrew Louis Conner and Almeda Vest Conner.
She was of the Primitive Baptist faith, as well as, a generous and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1929. She taught at Goose Creek, a one-room school, and she walked five miles each way for two years.
She was known for her beautiful quilts and crochet work and for her dedication to genealogy. She has spent the last 30 years researching family history including Vest, Conner, Sowers, Martin, Iddings and Richardson. She enjoyed reading the “Signs of the Times” published by The Oldest Primitive Baptist of Meadows of Dan passed on to her by her mother, Almeda.
Her husband, Dossie William Sowers, Sr. preceded her in death on April 25, 1968 after 37 years of marriage and she thought of him and missed him everyday. She continued the family farm business for the last 37 years.
She leaves behind a daughter Marie Ann Sowers Vest and son-in-law Gratton W. Vest, Salem; and a son (D.W.) Dossie William Sowers, Jr., Salem; five grandchildren and spouses, Rebecca (Becky) Thomas, Salem, Debbie Feury Hakola and Henry Hakola, Shawsville, Janet and Watson Boxley, Atlanta, Ga., Steve and Renee Sowers, Roanoke, Doug and Deanne Sowers, New Castle; five great-grandchildren, Staff Sgt. Jesse Feury, Fayetteville, N.C., Lindsay Thomas, Salem, Hannah Sowers, Roanoke, Kaitlin Sowers and Justin Gable, New Castle; brother and sisters-in-law; Alvin and Ocie Conner, Velvia Agee and Ora Conner, all of Check; and several nieces and nephews; special cousins and friends Elmer and Gracie Conner, Radford, Virginia Absher, Dublin, Robert and Doris Johnson, Cincinnatti, Ohio.
Special thanks to her caretakers for the last several months, Shirley Thomas, Shelba Kirby, Dolly Vest, and Cheryl Waldron. Special thanks to her neighbors Ray and Judy Vest and other neighbors.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday March 13, 2006 at the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel, Floyd, with Elder Junior Conner and Elder W.T. Conner officiating. Interment will follow at Wilson Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Maberry Funeral Home.