Erma Enniss Fitzgerald Carlisle

It is with great love that we say Mom graduated this life at the age of almost 87 on January 26, 2025. Beloved Wife, Mom, Gram, and Great-Gram; Erma was born to Alva Benjamine and Helga Dagmar Petersen Enniss on February 2, 1938, in Murray, Utah, and is now with them after a very long, courageous battle with heart and lung issues. We are so grateful to know she was welcomed back into our Savior’s loving arms, and is once again the healthy, active and vibrant soul she once was.

Erma attended Draper Elementary & Junior High, graduating from Jordan High School - she was always a proud Beetdigger. Her circle of friends began in kindergarten and lasted throughout her lifetime, Hugs to all the remaining Kinderkids!!

With the love of her family’s pioneer heritage, Erma became a genealogy buff early in her life, spending countless hours at the library in downtown Salt Lake. She went on to transcribe hundreds of pages of her father and mothers history, stories, talks, and poems.

Erma was actively involved in Draper City’s 1978 incorporation and was a councilwoman of the first Draper City Council. She fought for keeping Draper rural, unfortunately, it didn’t.

Erma was a pioneer in porcelain dollmaking and created a home business called Porcelain Doll Works, where she taught many family, friends, and others to make beautiful dolls. She sewed beautiful clothing for her dolls, just like she did for her children as they were growing up. She was a member of the Sherman Smith Doll Club for 45 years.

She married the most eligible bachelor in Draper, Riley R Fitzgerald on August 10, 1956, a local sheep rancher and the father of their children. She enjoyed being a rancher’s wife and the ranching and farming lifestyle that they lived and loved. Riley passed away in 1982.

Erma met her sweetheart,Terry Layne Carlisle and they wed July 11,1983. She felt blessed to be the 2nd mom to Terry’s son, and the 41+ years they were married.

They enjoyed time together in the mountains of Pine Hollow, showing cutting horses and a second home in Glenns’s Ferry Idaho, and a get-away home in Hurricane, Utah. Mom loved to accompany Terry on his work trips.

Erma worked at the Draper 7-11 where she made countless friends, both young and old, and loved them all, and they loved her!

Mom loved visiting with her family, spending time with her husband, reading, embroidery, collecting dolls of all types, figurines, glassware, and all kinds of pretty things.

Mom was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in Relief Society and Primary throughout her life, but she always said her favorite calling was being Cookie Grandma for the primary. She happily served at the Midvale Genealogy Center for many years. She will be missed by family and friends for her cheerful smile, compassionate, loving heart, and caring service.

Erma was preceded in death by her stillborn baby Trudy Kai, parents, sisters, brothers, and many loved ones. She leaves behind her loving husband Terry who has been so compassionate and loving in his tender ministering to our Mom, and we appreciate him and his selfless love for her and for us, her children: Stacey (Dave) Reed, Riley Roger Fitzgerald, Larry Wayne (Callie) Fitzgerald, Trisha Beth (Shayne) Carter, Stormy Layne (Melissa) Carlisle, 19 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, her beloved dog, Sassy, many nieces, nephews and loved ones.

A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on Monday, February 3rd at 11:00 a.m. Visit with the family from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State, Midvale. All friends and family are welcome to attend. Erma will be laid to rest near her loved ones in Draper Cemetery, 12450 So. Fort St. Draper.

The service will be livestreamed on the Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Goff-Mortuary-116988261695382/

(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)