Mildred V. Erven (Bolivar)'s Obituary
She was called by many names, Mom, Ma, Mick, Memaw, and GG. She was the first of three
children born to Oliver and Verda Jenkins, given the name of Mildred Vearl. She attended school in
Polk County, MO and graduated from Bolivar High School with the class of 1944. She was saved as
a young girl and joined Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church where she remained a member until
her death. Also in 1944, she married Roscoe Erven, who was later ordained as a deacon and thus,
Mildred spent the majority of her life as a deacon’s wife.
The couple had one child; a son named Ronnie Dean. Except for a few years while Roscoe was
working in California, the family spent their lives in Polk County. Mildred was a homemaker until Ron
was in High School; she then worked at various Bolivar businesses, most notably Teters Florists and
Horton’s Department Store. However, when her grandchildren moved to Bolivar, she undertook her
favorite job, that of a babysitter to Tiffany and Derek.
Mildred liked to sew and made many outfits and Halloween costumes for her grandchildren. She
crocheted, as well, having made hundreds of beautiful Christmas ornaments and stuffed animals for
her grandchildren and afghans for everyone else! She also loved working in the garden with Ros,
tomatoes being their prized crop.
Her house was always spotless and organized, even all the plastic bags and cottage-cheese
containers she’d never throw away. She enjoyed raising flowers and cooking. After having lived in
California, she started the family tradition of having tacos at Christmas in the early sixties when
Bolivar didn’t have any Mexican restaurants.
Every Christmas Eve she would stand at the stove frying tortilla shells until everyone was stuffed.
Only then would she sit down and eat. She was well-known for her baking; coconut cream and
pecan pies, strawberry cakes, and to-die-for apple dumplings!
Preceding her in death were her parents, Olivar and Verda Jenkins, husband Roscoe Erven, brother
John Jenkins and sister Willa Mae Sullivan.
Leaving to mourn her death are her son, Ron (Marinell) Erven; granddaughter Tiffany (David)
Hockanson, grandson Derek (Candi) Erven; great-granddaughter Alexandra (Austin) Moore,
Cannyon Goff; great-grandson Zane (Alexis) Erven and there three blessings in the form of great-
great-granddaughters, Rain and Noah Moore and Evelyn Erven. Our matriarch is gone but, will be
remembered and missed by all who knew her.
What’s your fondest memory of Mildred?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mildred?
Share a story where Mildred's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mildred you’ll never forget.
How did Mildred make you smile?
