Erma Jeanette (Sharp) Polk

Erma Jeanette Sharp Polk passed away on Monday, July 10, 2023, 9 days short of her 97th birthday.   Visitation will be Wednesday, July 12, 2023 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.  Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Lorena Cemetery.

Erma (known as “Tot” to her family) was born July 19, 1926 at the family home in Lorena, Texas to George and Gail Sharp.  When she was two years old, her family moved to the Asa Warner farm on the Brazos River.  She had a great time with the dogs, chickens, goats, pigs, and horses.  She and her sister had a Shetland pony named Virginia which they enjoyed riding. The family lived a half mile from the river so flooding was an issue.  They would load up the wagon and go about 5 miles to Third Street where her grandparents lived.

Erma went to the two-room Downsville School grades one through seven, Rosenthal School grades 8 and 9, and Waco High grades 10 and 11 graduating in 1944.  She went to Four-C Business College.  She worked at Asa Gin, Goldstein-Migel, Cameron Mills, and Library Binding.  She married Donald Polk in 1951.  They had 5 children and moved to Lorena in July, 1964.  After raising her children to middle school age, Erma went to work in floral design, first at Howell the Florist, then Twenty-Fifth Street Florists for Marie Erskine and ending at Midway Florist for Betty Lewallen.  She spent 17 years doing this before retiring in 1988 to care for her grandsons.

Erma attended Downsville Baptist Church and was baptized at age 14 at Third Street Baptist Church by Rev. Thomas Cobb.

She enjoyed traveling especially to Branson, Ruidoso, and Denver with her family.

Erma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Richard; grandsons, James Aaron and Matt Strahan; son-in-law Michael Strahan; grandson-in-law, Jon Stephenson; sister, Minnie Mae Whyburn; brothers, John Sharp and Larry Sharp; and sister-in-law, Darlene Vaughan.

She is survived by her daughters, Donna Tadlock and husband, Lee; Judy Yarber and husband, Charles; Lisa Ozment and husband, Danny; and Jan Harris; son, Gregg Polk; grandson, Chris Tadlock; granddaughter, Jennifer Stephenson; great-granddaughters, Taylor Tadlock, and boyfriend, Alec Burris; and Reagan Stephenson; great-grandsons Hayden Strahan and Mical Stephenson; step grandchildren, Lindsey Martin and Chas Yarber, and wife, Tammy; step great-grandchildren, Colton, Reece, Landon, Dane, and Danni; sister, Louise Black, and husband, Jack; brother, Jimmy Sharp, and wife, Mary; sister-in-law, Linda Sharp; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Lee Tadlock, Charles Yarber, Danny Ozment, Chris Tadlock, Jennifer Stephenson, and Hayden Strahan.

Registry for Erma Polk