Our Beautiful Mother, Erma Bybee Clarke passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 23, 2017 at the age of 87. She was living at her daughter’s home at the time of her passing in Henderson, Nevada.

Erma, along with her twin sister Erna, were born January 18, 1930 in Tropic, Utah to Levi Marion Bybee and Ella Riding. She was the 10th child of 14 children; this included 2 sets of twins.

She grew up under the majestic peaks of Bryce Canyon National Park; a place that she dearly loved. As a young girl, she spent her summers working inside the park at the lodge and spent many hours hiking the trails and enjoying the spectacular views.

She attended Bryce Valley High School in Tropic and then went on to Dixie College with her twin sister where they both received their Associate Degrees together. Upon returning from College, she met and married her sweetheart, Michael James Clarke who lived just 7 miles south of Tropic in Cannonville. They married on March 22, 1952 in the St. George LDS Temple. They started their lives together a little differently than most young married couples. Shortly after they were married, our Father went to South Africa to serve a 2 ½ year mission for the LDS Church. After Dad got home, they moved to St. George and Logan while Dad completed his schooling. After graduating from Utah State, they moved to Mesquite, Nevada where Dad taught at the HIgh School and Mom stayed home to raise their 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. After 18 years, they moved their family back home to Cannonville, Utah where our mother continued to raise the 3 youngest children. She loved the people of Cannonville and had many close friends and fond memories there.

She was a faithful Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served faithfully in the Primary and Relief Society for many years and was a devoted visiting teacher. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and served a CES Mission along with her husband to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

She loved her family and served them well. She was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker, taking care of 8 children was no easy task for her but she did it with patience and love for each of them. She by nature was a quiet lady but we knew by example her great faith in Jesus Christ as she served him faithfully all her days whether it was serving her family or her neighbors.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, a grandson and nine of her siblings. She is survived by her brother Mark, Sisters Giovanna, Mary and Sandra, all of her children, Michael Jr., Arthur (Nanette), Joan (Lee), Debra (Joseph), Ralph (Chrystal), Cheryl (Kevin), Bertha (Jim), and Patrick (Cindy), 37 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren with 6 more on the way.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28th in the Cannonville LDS Chapel at 11:00 A.M. The viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 9:30 to 10:30 at the church. Interment will be in the Cannonville Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.