of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Monroe & Belleville, age 88, passed away Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Chelsea Retirement Community. He was born March 3, 1930 in Owosso, Michigan, the son of Alvin & Edith Mary (Green) Jones. Ermil graduated from Monroe High School in 1948, and from Adrian College in 1952 with a history major and political science and math minors, earning his Secondary School Teaching Certificate. He earned two Master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, one in 1954 (History) and one in 1972 (School Administration). He spent 23 years at Van Buren Public Schools in Belleville and 10 years at Jefferson Schools in Monroe. In addition to teaching, Ermil sold life insurance for Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Company, did custodial and maintenance work for four summers for Van Buren School District, spent two summers at Ford Motor Company, and worked for Sears in the credit department and customer service.
He was a member of the Michigan Council for the Social Studies (Past President), Van Buren Education Society (Past President), Monroe County Purchasing Association, and served three years on the Adrian College Alumni Board. Ermil was active in the Lions Club for over 40 years, in the Belleville Lions (Charter Member & President), Monroe Lions (President & Lion of the Year), Dundee Lions, & Huron Valley Sunrise Lions Club. Ermil was a member of the Monroe Masonic Lodge 27. He was an Eagle Scout, and was involved in scouting for 30 years, including Committee Chair for Boy Scout Troop 544, and serving as both Program Director and Camp Director in the Wolverine Council. He served as Chairman for the Belleville City Planning Commission and was a member of the Board of Appeals. He was an active church member at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti (Sunday School teacher), Belleville United Methodist (youth group leader, Chair of Christian Education, & choir), St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Monroe (Choir, Liturgist, and Executive Board member), and finally at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor (lead usher, choir, ordained Deacon, Treasurer, and several committees). He was a Liturgist and certified Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Linda (Keith) Carnahan of Wyoming, Sheryl (Ken) Gaynor of Oak Park; a son, Kenneth Jones of Wyoming; four step-children, Jennifer (Ted) Baker, Eric (Geesook) Baker, Dave (Loretta) Baker, and Ted (Karen) Baker; four grandchildren, Shaun (Kelly), Paul (Mrianna Skorcz), Sarah, and Caitlin (Sean); two great-grandchildren, Melody and Zoey. He was preceded in death by two wives, Sally (Mayo) Jones and Beverly (Lyons) Baker.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 23, 2:00 pm at the Chelsea Retirement Community Dancey House chapel, with Rev. Tina Zimmerman officiating. The family will receive friends Friday from 1-2 pm. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Owosso. Memorial contributions may be made to Lions International . Arrangements were entrusted to Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea.