Erna “Nerna” Jean Cromer

Erna Cromer passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, surrounded by family at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston due to complications of Cardiac Arrest. A proud member of the Nez Perce Tribe. Erna was born in Lewiston on August 9, 1946, to Marie Broncheau McGrenra and Ernest “Penny” Taylor and raised by her Mom and Harry Rich at the family home in Clarkston, Washington. She graduated high school from Clarkston. She attended San Diego Community College and Lewis-Clark State College where she graduated in the Medical Secretary field.

At a young age, Erna moved to Seattle, WA, and married David Stanfield, which later ended in divorce. They still remained close friends throughout her life. In 1962, She moved to Oregon City with her sister Gladys and Corbett Wheeler on her way to live with her friend Maria in San Diego, California.

After moving to San Diego she was blessed with her beautiful baby girl “Stephanie Taylor” where she made their home for 20 + years. She married and later divorced Rick Cromer.
In 1986, she returned home to Clarkston, to help care for her mother. She reacquainted with a family friend Delmar Wilson and he became the love of her life she moved to Lewiston with him until her death. Raising their grandchildren together with their pups “Spot”, “Jack” and “Baby”, whom she adored and spoiled all of them.

Throughout her working career, she worked in a variety of jobs such as working at Marine Corp Credit Union, the Navel Training Center, and as an in-home caregiver. She worked at Tri-State Hospital, Indian Health Services. In her later years, she worked as the Lead Housekeeper for Comfort Inn and enjoyed the benefits of always getting a room during Hoopfest. She worked for 13 years and retired from the Lapwai Elementary School as a custodian. She loved working with the staff and all the students at the school. She enjoyed being an honorary grandma to all the kids and would enjoy taking gifts to them during Christmas.

In her 36 years with Delmar, she became more active in watching their grandchildren in their activities and sports such as basketball, baseball, and football, and traveling to Hoopfest. Making annual trips to Aquarius for camping and berry picking. They would go to the mountains often for mushroom hunting, gathering wood, or just running the dogs.
Erna was the most loving, kindest, wonderful person on earth.

She is survived by the love of her life Delmar Wilson of Lewiston, her daughter “Stephanie Marie Taylor” of Asotin, her daughters Laurie Ann Cloud (Dion) of Lapwai; DelRae Kipp (Keith) of Lapwai, her grandson Sam Martin and his other half Macy Wymore of Clarkston. Her Sisters Gladys Slickpoo, Karen Albright (Matt), Carol Pryne, Rose Ketchum, Muriel Olney, Jolene Mickey, and Marcie Rich. Brothers Phillip Rich, Gary Olney, and Norm Seideman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Alice Ebling; her son Maynard Anthony McConnell; grandson, Kelly Anderson Jr.; great-grandson, Titan Ramsey.

The family would like to thank the staff at NiMiiPuu Health and St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. to be followed by funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lapwai with burial at Spalding Park Cemetery and dinner to follow at Kateri Hall in Lapwai on Friday, January 5, 2024. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements