Erma Vashti High

Erma Vashti High died peacefully on January 4, 2022, age 100, in Salt Lake City, Utah, attended by loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Erma was born to Stephen and Ada Elizabeth Muir on April 17, 1921 in Chesterfield, Idaho, one of nine children.   She grew up in Chesterfield until her mother died when Erma was six.  She was then raised by relatives, her grandmother Muir in Logan, Utah, her Aunt Lottie in Chesterfield and her sister Priscilla and husband Rodney in Grantsville, Utah.  Erma graduated from Grantsville High School in 1939.

In 1941 she married Jack Carson High, who was stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah but was soon sent to fight in WWII.  Erma and Jack had four children, Jack Carson, Jr., Judy Ann, Dennis Dee, and Shauna Ruth, all born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Erma and Jack moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1950, where they raised their children.  Erma and Jack divorced in 1979.

After her divorce, Erma owned and operated a cosmetics business in Idaho Falls.  She sold the business in 1985 and moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to family. For over thirty-five years she lived an active and fulfilling life in Salt Lake.

Erma devoted herself to family— brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews.  She especially liked children—teasing, playing, and laughing with them, and building their self-respect. Her own children were scattered from Oregon to Alaska to Washington, D.C.  She made the effort and made the rounds to see them regularly.

Erma was also a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She deeply believed in its teachings and practiced them daily.  She attended church services wherever she was and frequently performed temple work.

In later life, Erma suffered first from neuropathy and then from dementia.  Her life diminished, but thanks to the devotion of friends, church members, and especially her two daughters and their families, she lived a happy life to the end.

Erma was preceded in death by all of her siblings, Jane Robb Muir Rigby of Centerville and Salt Lake City, Stephen Lamoni Muir of American Falls, Idaho, Priscilla Blackwood Muir Sutton of Bountiful, William Anson Muir of Chesterfield, Idaho, Ada Elizabeth Muir Eliason of Salt Lake City, John Eldon Muir of Gray’s Lake, Idaho, Phyllis Muir of Chesterfield (who died as an infant), and Mada Kathryn Muir Greenfield of Bountiful and Salt Lake City.  She was also preceded in death by grandson Dustin High of Anchorage, Alaska.

She is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at the Orchard Fourth Ward, 55 East 350 North, North Salt Lake, Utah.  A viewing will be held Monday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and Tuesday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.

Masks and hand sanitizers will be available.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page.  Streaming will begin about 15 minutes prior to services.