OBITUARY: Shirley Nan Erickson

Shirley Nan Erickson, age 61 of Richview, entered Heaven at 5:22 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, at St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia.

She was born on March 13, 1953, in Joliet, the daughter of Norman and Edna Mae (Hancock) Diefenbach. She married Richard Bruce Erickson on May 20, 1971, at the First Baptist Church in Joliet, and he survives in Richview.

In addition to her husband of 43 years, Mrs. Erickson is survived by her son, Joe Erickson of Richview; two grandchildren, Alexandria Noel Howard and Garrett Lee Howard; mother, Edna Mae Diefenbach of Carrier Mills; two sisters, Lenora Krause of Carrier Mills and Sandy Obrakta and husband Kevin of Braidwood; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Erickson was preceded in death by her father Norman Diefenbach and daughter Bonnie Marie Erickson.

Mrs. Erickson was a member of the Grace Community Church in Mount Vernon. There she belonged to the Women At the Well Ministries who outreached to others through Christian Training and Bible Studies. She was an Ambassador of Christ and her Christian family and friends were important to her as well as them knowing Jesus Christ. She was a Christian teacher who loved education and the teachings of the Lord. Mrs. Erickson was a member and past president of the Golden King National Honor Society at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind. She loved to ride horses, write on a devotional basis and create art. She admired anything associated with lighthouses. She cherished the time she spent with her family especially to go boating with her husband. She was looking forward to the birth of her grandson, Jamison Cole Davis.

Mrs. Erickson was an Art Teacher at the Trinity Lutheran School in Centralia and New Horizon Christian School in Centralia. She was a private tutor to children throughout the community. She was previously a teacher at the Christ Mission Lutheran School in New Lenox in the 1980's, where she assisted in establishing the school. Mrs. Erickson had 16 years of advanced education that included an Associates in Elementary Special Education from Kaskaskia College in 2004, Associates in Liberal Arts from Kaskaskia College and a Degree in Business in 1971 from the Marycrest Business College in Joliet. As it was said by her son, "Shirley knew the only way to Heaven, our real home, was through Jesus Christ."

In following Mrs. Erickson's wishes, she will be cremated. As said by her family, "an 'Entrance to Heaven Celebration' to remember and honor Shirley and her Christ-like path will be in the near future. The date is yet to be determined. Those interested in participating, please contact the family (no contact information needed) as those who want to, know how to reach us."

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to the family to assist them with their financial hardships as a fund has been established in Shirley's name (checks payable to Peoples National Bank and write in memo - Shirley Erickson Glory Fund) where checks may be delivered to any Peoples National Bank branch or mailed to 901 West Broadway (P.O. Box 1716) Centralia, Ill. 62801. Cremation rites have been accorded by the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home in Centralia.

Online Condolences of Sympathy may be left for Mrs. Erickson's family at www.moranfuneralhome.net or on Facebook.