Nancy Carolyn Westmoreland Erbe

I was born on October 16,1933 to Hall and Callie McJimsey Westmoreland in Elysian Fields, Texas, the sixth of seven children. Died July 9, 2024, at my daughter home in Marshall, Texas. I am from the pioneer families that helped establish Texas before it was a State. Coming in 1844, the Woodleys and Westmorelands, came by covered wagon making the dangerous and difficult trip to the wild frontier. Later on my families of the Bryans, and McJimseys came and settled here also. I had a wonderful childhood, surrounded by a loving family, I cherish those years. Life was hard but I had everything I needed, food, my family and a strong relationship with God. I played basketball and tennis in school which I thoroughly enjoyed. My H. S. graduating class consisted of 10. I went to Elysian Fields schools, graduating valedictorian and Panola Jr. College where I was honored to be their first homecoming queen. I joined the USO at the Barksdale Air Force base in Shreveport, La. to honor my only brother who was in the service. In 1952, I met my future husband there, Allen W. Erbe. We married in Elysian Fields in 1953 then moved to his hometown of Rockford, Illinois in 1955. We were married for 47 years. We had three wonderful children in close succession, two boys and a girl. Then we had another son 13 years after the last one that made our family complete. Even though times were difficult, we made ends meet and raised our family well. I loved books, family genealogy, crafts, gardening, collecting depression glass and my numerous dogs throughout my life. I worked several different jobs but most were in retail, namely Kmart and Walmart, retiring in 2014 at the age of 80. In 2014, I moved back to my sweet Texas and lived with my daughter and son-in-law. Survived by my children, daughter and son-in-law, Janice (Ron) Mackey, son Richard Erbe of Lebanon, Mo., son Karl Erbe of Beloit, Wisc. and Ronald (Nancy) Erbe of Rockford, ILL., my sister, Annette Bell, Houston, Tx., Sister-in-law Jeannie Westmoreland of Scottsville, Tx., brother-in-law Harold Raines; grandchildren, Robert (Kylie) Mackey, Andrew (Cori) Mackey, Amanda (Michael) Willis, Brandon (Tomye) Erbe, Heidi (Andy) Dettman, Steven (Kaimi) Erbe, Annie (Jeff) Pirone, Melinda Erbe, Kyle (Krystle) Erbe, Jonathan, Zack and Joseph Erbe, 16 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A special note to my dear friends Becky Meyer and Sally Champbell of Rockford, Illinois. Preceded in death by my parents, brother Hall (Sonny Boy), sisters Mary Robins, Ahleene Reavis, Esther Raines, and Elnora Wootten, brothers-in-law, George Robins, Rev. Andy Reavis, Robert Bell, Dick Wootten and ex-husband Allen Erbe. A Life Celebration will be held at the Sullivan Funeral Home in Marshall, Tx. on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, from 5-7 pm. Burial of ashes will take place at our Woodley family cemetery in Harrison County, Texas at a later date.