Erma Luvarl Johnston

Erma Johnston, 89, of the High Hill area, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2026 at McAlester Regional Health Center. The family will welcome friends for visitation on Tuesday, September 22, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in Hartshorne. Graveside funeral services will be Wednesday, September 23, at 2:00 p.m. at the Elmwood Cemetery pavilion.

Erma Johnston was born on January 19, 1937 in Sardis to Walter James Cothern and Alta Mae (Potter) Cothern, one of ten children growing up on the family farm near Sardis. After school, Erma married Jim Beagles in 1955. They moved to California for a while and returned to Hartshorne in 1970. Her husband, Jim, passed away in 1990, and in 1993 she married R. H. Johnston, who also preceded her in death in 2009. Erma worked as an inspector at Oklahoma Aerotronics for over 23 years. In her free-time she loved playing softball and did embroidery work and quilting. She also worked hard in her yard where she could grow about anything.

Erma is survived by her children, Brenda Miller, Ron Beagles, and Randy Beagles; step-children, Roger and Cindy Johnston, Carla and David Howell, and Keith and Kim Johnston; 4 brothers, Jim Cothern and wife Teresa, Clyde Cothern and wife Candy, Bill Cothern, and Ernie Cothern and wife Diane; a son-in-law, Tim Ferrell; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, James Beagles; her second husband, R. H. Johnston; a daughter, Diane Ferrell; a great great grandson, Cayden Moore; 4 brothers, Hub, Cliff, Joe and Bud Cothern; a sister, Wanda Lunceford; a sister-in-law, Cheryl Cothern; and 7 brothers-in-law, Harvey Lunceford, Donald Beagles, Leo Beagles, Bill Beagles, Keith Beagles, Arthur Johnston, and John Johnston.