Erma Douglass

Erma Lucille Douglass, age 92, formerly of Anselmo, NE was called home to be with the Lord June 8th, 2014 at Heritage Hall, Broken Bow, NE Erma is survived by her eldest son, Dana Douglass of Omaha; daughter Joann Still of Anselmo. Brother Howard (Dorothy) Pracht of Broken Bow; sister Norma Curtis of Broken Bow; sister in law Eula Douglass of California; and brother in law Norman Skinner of Idaho. Grand children: Mike (Diane) Douglass of Grand Island; Monica Fay of Sioux City; Dallas Douglass of Omaha; Richard (Brenda) Still of Oconto; Ann ( Lonnie) Smith of Wills Point, TX; and Douglass (Amber) Still of Cheyenne, WY. Great grandchildren: McKenzie, Katelyn, and Tyler Douglass; Lyndsy and Jacob Fay; Rebecca and Marshall Still; Ethan, McKayla, Haley Jo Conley. Erma is preceded in death by her parents Oliver and Alma (Harmon) Pracht; in laws Eben and Lois Douglass; husband Earl; brother Lloyd Pracht; sister Donnie Mae Skinner; brother in laws Leo, Dale, and Donald Douglass, and Lloyd Curtis; and sister in laws Faye Davis, Mildred Douglass and Ester Pracht; and infant daughter Dottie Kay Douglass. Erma was the eldest daughter of Oliver and Alma Pracht born July 28, 1921 at Berwyn ,NE. She spent her youth in the Cherrville community of eastern Custer County. While working as cook and house keeper on the Walt Cole Ranch she noticed a nice young cowboy, Earl Douglass, at the dinner table. He later asked her out and she told him she didn’t want to live on a ranch or in those terrible sand hills! They were married Sept 12, 1942 and spent 63 wonderful years in the sand hills together. In 1955 Earl and Erma purchased their ranch east of Anselmo where they raised cattle and horses the remainder of their lives. Erma worked alongside Earl on the ranch as well as the school lunch room cook, mail carrier, and served as the 4-H sewing leader for several years teaching countless young ladies to sew. She and Earl were church youth group leaders for several years and served meals for several young men and women at their home before ball games and 4-H events. Erma was one of the founding members of the Arrow Artist art club. She attended many art workshops and participated in numerous art shows throughout central Nebraska earning several awards. Many of her paintings of windmills, landscapes, flowers, cattle and horses hang in homes and offices throughout the region. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 11th at 2:00 PM at the First Christian Church in Broken Bow with Rev. Seth Bates officiating. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery with Govier Brothers Mortuary in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC of Omaha Ne.