Erma Jean Berndt

Erma Jean Berndt August 26, 1921 March 15, 2013 Erma Jean Berndt went home to be with her Lord on Friday, March 15, 2013, in Beaumont, Texas. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 19, at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. Visitation will be Monday, March 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Erma Jean was born August 26, 1921, in Mangum, Oklahoma, to Judson and Jennie Moore. She spent her early years in Granite, Oklahoma, where she graduated from high school. She attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. She later obtained a Master's Degree from Baylor University. She taught school for a year in Mt. Shasta, California. After moving back to Oklahoma, she worked at Midland Valley Railroad in Muskogee and as a secretary for the First Baptist Church of Muskogee. On May 1, 1948, she married Leo Berndt. They lived in Muskogee where both their sons were born. Later they moved to Liberty, Missouri and then to Waco, Texas in 1959. In Waco, she and Leo were active members of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. While in Waco, Erma Jean taught in Connally Independent School District for twenty years. For most of that time she taught language arts. After the death of Leo in 2001, Erma Jean moved to Beaumont, Texas, where she was a resident of Calder Woods Retirement Center. Erma Jean is survived by sons Dr. Robert Barry Berndt and wife, Susan, of Beaumont and Daniel Berndt and wife, Debbie, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren Tyler Berndt, Andrew Berndt and Emily Berndt. The family wishes to thank the staff of Calder Woods for their many years of care. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSONHATCHBAILEY