Jessie Marie Polk Erhard

Mrs. Jessie Marie Polk Erhard passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at The Vineyard Inn Assisted Living Facility in Seminole, FL.
Mrs. Erhard was born on September 23, 1920, in Oakvale, MS to Mr. And Mrs. Dewey Polk. She attended school in Mississippi City and Gulfport, MS. She worked as a professional seamstress, designing numerous wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses, including veils and headpieces, as well as designing and making many formal gowns and Mardi Gras costumes. She served as Co-Captain for the Gulfport Krewe of Gemini for two years.
Mrs. Erhard taught sewing at St. John High School in Gulfport and worked at Gulfport Memorial Hospital as switchboard operator. She also volunteered at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Mississippi City. Before relocating to St. Petersburg, FL following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mrs. Erhard attended St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport where she served in the Altar Society for many years and also volunteered in many areas of the Church and School. She also served for many years as a Girl Scout leader.
Mrs. Erhard was extremely talented with crafts. She designed and made jewelry and Christmas ornaments including Angel ornaments, which she made for her family and friends and for the Christmas tree at The Vineyard. She enjoyed crocheting, beadwork, needlework, gardening, and reading.
Mrs. Erhard was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John T. Erhard, Jr., sisters, Mrs. Dixie Turritin and Mrs. Bobbie Killen, and brother, Johnny Polk.
Mrs. Erhard is survived by her daughters, Betty Davis (Dan) of Seminole, FL, and Cynthia Erhard, of Seminole, FL, and also her son, John T. Erhard III (Sandra) of Saucier, MS. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ronda Scarabino (Michael) of Orlando, FL, Irvin Haydel III (Lisa) of Sarasota, FL, Kevin Erhard (Melva) of Gulfport, MS, Jason Erhard (Ellen) of Ocean Springs, MS, Darren Erhard (Aimee) of Waveland, MS, and Nunzio Carrubba (Chantal)of Clearwater, Fl, and great-grandchildren Ethan and Anna Carrubba, also of Clearwater, FL.
She is also survived by her sisters, Mrs. Diane Young (Chick) of Dallas, TX, and Mrs. Betty Enclade of Dallas, TX, and brothers, Edwin Polk (Nancy) and Jimmy Polk (Diane), all of Slidell, LA, and sisters-in-law, Mrs. Emily Turan of Pass Christian, MS, and Mrs. Hazel Erhard of Mobile, AL
Visitation will be held at 10:00 am at St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport, MS on Monday, April 28, 2014. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 11:00 am. Burial will be at St. James Cemetery in Gulfport, MS. Mrs. Erhard's Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The family of Mrs. Erhard would especially like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the owners and staff of The Vineyard Inn Assisted Living Facility in Seminole, FL, and to all those who cared for her there, especially Frank Amato, ARNP, who was her primary care provider from the time she moved to Florida in 2005, until her death.
A special thanks also to the staff of Suncoast Hospice of Florida, who also provided professional care and attention to Mrs. Erhard.
Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport, served the family.
For more information, please call (228)539-9800.