Erma Pauline Chambers, RN, 96, of Statesville, N.C., peacefully passed away on April 26, 2026 at The Greens at Maple Leaf.
Erma was born November 7, 1929, in Mitchell, S.D., the eldest child of J. Keller and Ruth Johnson of Melba/Nampa, Idaho. Her parents farmed in South Dakota until 1935, when they moved to Kalispell, Mont. In October of 1936, they moved to Nampa, Idaho. Her parents intended that their children would attend Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. Erma desired to be a nurse from a very young age. She graduated from NNU’s Samaritan Hospital Nursing School founded and directed by Dr. Thomas Mangum and achieved her Registered Nurse degree in 1951 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1965. She worked as an RN at the Mangum Clinic and Mercy Hospital in Nampa. On December 20, 1952, she married Richard C. Bort, whom she met while working at the Mangum Clinic, and they had four daughters together. Richard passed at the age of 41 on February 26, 1964. She married Lester H. Chambers on June 5, 1966, and moved to Boise, Idaho, where Erma spent the next 11 years caring for her family. Erma and Lester moved to Boston, Mass., in 1977 and she worked as an RN at The Boston Hospital for Women /Brigham and Women’s Hospital. They moved to Statesville, N.C., in 1980. Lester opened the iconic Lesters Books and Tea that had a presence in Statesville until his passing in 2018 and for which he was honored with a mural in downtown Statesville. Erma worked as an RN at the old Davis Hospital and then Iredell Memorial Hospital until she retired in 2011 at the age of 81 after celebrating 25 years of employment there.
Erma is survived by her four daughters, Brenda Chambers of Tucson, Ariz., Charla (Larry) Bayer of Moline, Ill., Yvonne (David) Parla of Statesville, N.C., and Ronda (Gary) Katzman of Midland, N.C.; eight grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and her sister, Anna Marie (James W.) Jackson of Evergreen, Colo.
Erma was a loving and devoted, nurse, wife, a dear mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She had a deep love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her family, friends, colleagues, and patients have been greatly blessed by her unselfish loving care and her lifelong example of Christian living.
Erma was an excellent nurse, seamstress, musician and gardener. She had a great love for her flowers and gardens; she received awards for her beautiful gardens and was part of local garden tours. She loved music, played piano for pleasure and sang with the Charlotte Oratorio Singers for many years.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Richard C. Bort on February 26, 1964; second husband Lester H. Chambers on January 26, 2018; mother Ruth Johnson on September 27, 2000; father Keller Johnson on November 6, 2006; brothers Dr. Howard Johnson on January 21, 1982, Dr. Floyd Johnson on June 18, 2021, both of Boise, Idaho, and Roger Johnson of Bakersfield, Calif., on February 8, 2026.
The family wishes to express appreciation to The Greens of Maple Leaf for its love, compassion, thoughtfulness and kindness shown to Erma and all her family during her time with them.
A visitation and service to celebrate her life will be held on May 9, 2026, at Nicholson Funeral Home in Statesville, N.C. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. with the service immediately following. Interment will follow at Iredell Memorial Park.
Floral Tributes can be sent to Nicholson’s Funeral Home, 135 E Front Street, Statesville, NC 28677 on the day of the service.
Memorials may be made in Erma’s name to Project C.U.R.E at ProjectCure.org or by mail to 10377 E Geddes Ave, Suite 200, Centennial, CO 80112. Founded by her dear brother-in-law and sister Dr. James and Dr. Anna Marie Jackson and currently under the leadership of her nephew Dr. Douglas Jackson, this is an effort to address staggering shortages in medical resources around the world.
Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.