Johanna Corrine (Martin) Ervin, 91, of Parsons died peacefully at her home at 5:35 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010.

Corrine was born on Feb. 10, 1919, in rural Miami County near Wellsville to Montie A. and G. Hazel (Upham) Martin. She grew up on the family farm, Montie Martin Farms, attended Prairie Bell School (Richland Township) and graduated from Paola High School in 1936. She received a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Kansas in 1940 and a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota in 1943.

Her teaching career started in Wheeling, Mo., in 1941, where she taught English and music and coached basketball. In 1943-44, she taught high school English in Alexandria, Minn., and then became the speech and dramatics teacher at North High School in Wichita (1945-1953). In the 1970s and 1980s, she was a substitute teacher at Parsons High School and Parsons Junior High School.

She married Kenneth Lindley Ervin on Dec. 23, 1951, at the Martin family home. In 1953, the couple moved to Parsons, where they raised four children. Ken Ervin survives at their longtime home in Parsons.

Mrs. Ervin was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church (formerly Washington Avenue Methodist Church), where she was a youth leader and Sunday school teacher for many years and member and president of United Methodist Women. She was active in Girl Scouting for more than 40 years as a troop leader, day camp director and board member and president of the Meadowlark Council. She served for 12 years on the Parsons Recreation Commission and for eight years on the Parsons Unified School District board of education. She was a member of the Parsons chapter of the American Association of University Women and the Musical Art Club. She organized the Parsons chapter of the Mother-to-Mother Ministry.

In recognition of her role as church and community leader, she received the Cross and Flame Award (United Methodist Church), the Distinguished Service Award (Kansas Recreation and Parks), the Torch Award (Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church), the Girl Scouts Thanks Badge I and II and the Dody Henderson Lifetime Achievement Award (Girl Scouts). Ken and Corrine Ervin were named Citizens of the Month by the Parsons Chamber of Commerce in 1977.

Corrine was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed camping and boating with her family. She loved reading, writing and corresponding with family and friends. Corrine and Ken have hosted many international exchange students and international visitors and have traveled to many places around the world.

In addition to her husband, Kenneth L. Ervin, she is survived by a brother, Keith Martin of Olathe; a sister, Helen Gilles of Lawrence; four children, Elizabeth Boman and her husband, Michael, of Kansas City, Mo., DeeEllen Davis and her husband, Thomas, of Indianapolis, Janet Schamp and her husband, Richard, of St. Louis and Kent M. Ervin of Reno, Nev.; nine grandchildren, Steven Boman, Andrew Schamp and his wife, Abigail, Emily Davis, Laurel (Schamp) Good and her husband, Zachary, Elizabeth Davis, Jeffrey Boman, Peter Schamp, Rebecca Davis and Kathryn Boman; and a great-granddaughter, Rosemary Schamp.

The service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

In lieu of other remembrances, memorials are suggested to Parsons Girl Scouts or Wesley United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.