Vernell Erickson

     Vernell Erickson, 94, passed away at her home on June 8, 2021.

     Vernell Gay Doyle was born in Jamestown, ND on January 2, 1927 to Dorsey & Pearl Doyle, later moving to Dexter, MO, during the Great Depression to stay with family.  The family moved back to Jamestown where Vernell attended Franklin Grade School and Jamestown High School, graduating in 1944.  At her mother’s insistence, Vernell enrolled in the US Cadet Nurse Corps, attending Trinity Hospital (Sisters of St. Joseph) School of Nursing to become a Registered Nurse in 1947.

     Floyd A. Erickson and Vernell were married on December 12, 1948 by the Rev. NE McCoy in Jamestown, ND.  Floyd & Vernell raised eight children in their home south of Jamestown where Vernell resided for over 60 years.

     While raising a family, working part-time, enduring the loss of her home by fire & attending her husband during illness; Vernell returned to college, graduating in 1972 from Jamestown College – adding a BSN degree to her RN title.

     Vernell worked at Jamestown Hospital in some capacity full & part-time for almost 45 years.  She also was a nursing instructor at the Jamestown State Hospital & Jamestown College, retiring as the night ER Coordinator from Jamestown Hospital in 1991.  She was a very active member of the ND Nurses Association and served many years as secretary.

     Vernell was a teacher, an artist, a craftsman.  “Busy hands were happy hands” and she was always busy with a craft, painting or garden project; always enlisting her family to join in the “fun”.  She volunteered many years at Mary’s House at the Frontier Fort, enjoying conversation with the tourists.

     Vernell was preceded in death by Floyd, her husband of 44 years; her daughter, Claryce (Birdie); infant granddaughter; son-in-law, Stanley Waagen; parents (Dorsey & Pearl Doyle); 2 brothers, DE-Johnnie (Genevieve) Doyle, Dorsey (Marilyn Frahm) Doyle, sister-Audrey Durand Barnes (Larry & Winston), and 7 brothers-in-law & 6 sisters-in-law.

     She is survived by 7 children; George Ann Waagen, Clifford (Diane) Erickson, Jamestown, Carol (Lynn) Beiswanger-Bismarck, William (Jeanette) Erickson, Jamestown, Lee (Gwen Kelly) Erickson, Florence, AZ, Neil (Marie) Erickson, Woods Cross, UT, Craig (Kelly) Erickson, Apple Valley, MN; 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and sisters-in-law, Evelyn Clemens, Fargo, ND, Lillian Peckham, Jamestown, ND and Donald Willey, IN.

     Vernell didn’t like growing “old” and losing her remaining hearing & sight was especially hard.  We are grateful that we no longer have to yell in her “good” ear to be heard & know that she is only a thought away & in our hearts forever.  Thank you to Dr’s. Glen Wiens & Raymond Larsen, JRMC Hospice nurses and staff, and our sister George Ann, for her care of our mother during her journey from this life to everlasting life.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to JRMC Hospice, 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, ND 58401 or a charity of your choice.

     A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 18, 2021 at Atonement Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND with Pastor Linda J. Schauer officiating.  Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

     Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vernell Erickson, please visit our floral store.