Eloda Mae Ervin

Born on July 11, 1934, in Dilworth, Minnesota, Eloda was the daughter of the late Raymond Claude and Mary Jane (Magnan) Bray. She attended school in Dilworth, where she graduated as Valedictorian of her class, and was also a champion speller.

After graduation, Eloda moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked as a secretary at North Dakota State University. It was there that fate stepped in: a young college student named William “Bill” Ervin caught her eye, and the rest, as they say, was history. The couple married on August 19, 1961, then lived in Warren, Michigan for a few years until finding their forever home outside Dexter, Michigan, in 1969, where they built a life filled with love, laughter, and family.

Eloda was a lifelong Catholic and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter where she previously served as a Eucharistic Minister.

Eloda was a University of Michigan sports fan, faithfully cheering on the Wolverines, especially in hockey, football, and basketball, as well as all the professional Detroit sports teams. She was also an avid reader and a master of puzzles and games, delighting in jigsaw puzzles and crosswords, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Trivial Pursuit (though Bill quickly learned never to be on the opposite team!).

A talented cook, Eloda’s kitchen was the heart of her home. Her family fondly remembers her delicious pasta sauce and meatballs, comforting meatloaf, famous Velveeta mac and cheese, Appian Way pizza nights with her children, and her much-loved potato salad. Grocery shopping every two weeks with her daughter Valerie became a cherished routine, pushing two carts around the store.

Music was always part of Eloda’s life. She loved listening to Barbara Streisand, ABBA, The Mamas & The Papas, and classic songs and musicals from the 1930s and ’40s. She was also a wonderful baker—her ginger snaps and chocolate cookies never lasted more than a day once they came out of the oven.

Eloda had a love for all birds, especially hummingbirds, and loved feeding and watching them around her home. She was her children’s biggest fan, faithfully attending every game, spelling bee, and play. She even drilled them with practice words for their spelling bees during road trips. All of her children became champion spellers, upholding the family tradition.

While her children were in middle school, Eloda was determined to learn to drive to help the family, having never done so while growing up. On one of her early trips out, she was driving the family’s old gray Mustang when the muffler became dislodged. She cleverly tied it back on with bright green yarn she had in the car, demonstrating her resourcefulness and determination, and was able to return home safely.

Eloda will be deeply missed by her husband, William ‘Bill’ Ervin; children, Brett William (Julie) Ervin of Paris, KY, Mary Kay (Anthony) Morrison of Michigan, Valerie Anne Bray of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Matthew Robert Ervin of Kalamazoo, MI, and Melissa Ann (Aaron) Frost of Dallas, GA; grandchildren, Patrick (Nicole) Ervin, Peter (Hailee) Ervin, Paul (Mackenzie) Redfearn, Mark (Lauren) Ervin, Matthias Ervin, Linus Ervin, Jason Phelps, Jess Phelps, Cameron Phelps, Christa Phelps, and Lauren (Jack Mask) Bray; and great-grandchildren, Archer Wilburn-Ervin, Miriam Ervin, Wren Wilburn-Ervin, Alice Redfearn, and August Ervin; along with many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Eloda was preceded in death by her siblings, Ray ‘Bud’ Bray, Antoinette ‘Toni’ Bloomquist, Beverly Sutton, Eugenie ‘Jean’ Gebeke, and Richard ‘Dick’ Bray.

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church (the Village Church) in Dexter, 3430 Dover St, Dexter, MI 48130, (corner of 4th St. and Dover) with Father Brendan Walsh presiding. Visitation will be held preceding Mass from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., also at St. Joseph Catholic Church (the Village Church).

Hosmer-Muehlig Funeral Chapel is honored to serve Eloda’s family.