Ermida Olivia Booth

April 14th 1942

Army would meet and marry the man of her dreams Carroll Eugene Booth. They quickly had three little girls Cynthia, Brenda, and Carolyn. Army spent no wasted time creating memories with her little girls from planting a garden that she harvested, volunteering at the girl’s school PTA fundraisers, making their Halloween costumes, and preparing her little girl’s favorite meals on various days of their choice.

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One of the fondest memories all of her daughters share together is the hysterical boat launches. (The idea of this boat was not something Army supported) But being the trooper and teammate, she was Army would be in the driver’s seat backing up the Buick to the boat launch with the back window almost completely submerged as her knucklehead would keep insisting “Just a little bit more” Carroll would shout as he was guiding the boat back! Army would be shouting “I can’t go back anymore knucklehead!!” With the three little girls crawling and shouting in the back seats of the Buick. These were just some of the memories the girls had of their parents together. We often hear the saying good things must always come to an end. This is what happened in our family’s situation, Carroll Eugene Booth’s life was cut short due to a freak accident on Wayne Thompson’s Turkey farm in Eldon Missouri.

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Army would never remarry, she gathered her three little girls and belongings and moved to California to put the pieces together. Although this was a devastating tragedy for her young family Army would prove herself and become something so very strong. She put herself in night school and then found a tower to climb at Leggett & Platt where she devoted her professional life and became a successful businesswoman who traveled and was considered an asset in a predominantly male industry all while trying to maintain and provide and support three daughters which was no easy feat in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Army continued to become something strong. During her professional career, she became a grandmother to six grandsons. Every single one of her grandsons looked up to her for strength, advice, and unconditional love. Army had created something for her family and friends to emulate. The strength, loyalty, and intelligence that Army created herself to be was something that you just couldn’t describe. She was the person with whom you could tell your deepest darkest secrets and she not only would never tell a soul but she had your back right or wrong. She was our best friend that the lord strategically placed. She served her purpose in this world without a doubt. Army was never one for drama or gossip her soul wasn’t programmed that way her intentions were always true and ready to help when called upon and we all knew that about her. With the sparkle in her eyes, you could just tell something was different about her soul. Her love was a different type of love patient, kind, selfless and so strong.

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The Lord knew Ermida Olivia Booth was a very important person to her family and friends. So he decided to slowly take her away in phases. Army’s strength would reappear in these phases and remind us of how beautiful she really was. She would set all of her fears aside to give her family the very best. Although this is a difficult time for all of us maybe we should look at the blueprint she left us with. Army you were too good for any of us here, But we’re going to gather these pieces, be strong, and show each other love, just like she would have wanted us to do.

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