BELLE PLAINE - Blasdel, Erma Lucille (Nixon), age 99, passed away August 27, 2012 at the Kingswood Senior Living Community in Kansas City, MO. Visitation 1-8pm Thursday at Hatfield-Smith Funeral Home, 219 W. 2nd, Belle Plaine. Graveside service 2pm Friday at Belle Plaine Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Kincaid Blasdel; parents, Joe and Emma Nixon; siblings, Merlin and Loreen Nixon. Erma married Elmer Blasdel August 31, 1938. They had 4 sons, Joe (Sammie) Blasdel of Tulsa, OK, Gregg (Jennifer) Blasdel of Burlington, VT, Graeme (Joan) Blasdel of Kansas City, MO and John (Linda) Blasdel of Leawood, KS; 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was a life time member of the Presbyterian Church in Belle Plaine. She graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1930 and taught school at Argyle, Starlight and Cooper districts. Erma was a painter and painted things that made her happy. She loved flowers and nature and that showed in the gardens in her yard. She has exhibited in the Mendosa Gallery in Taos, New Mexico, and shown her work at the Wichita Center for the Arts, the Century II of Wichita and was a regular exhibitor at the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City. She was the first woman artist to receive 1st place in the State Outdoor Advertising Competition in Kansas. Her memberships include: Wichita branch of the National League of American Pen Women, Kansas Academy of Oil Painters, Midwest Enamellists, Wichita Center for the Arts and the Wellington Art Association. Her life has been spent serving her church, family, friends and her love of painting. Her family was preparing to celebrate her 100th Birthday Labor Day Weekend. Now they will celebrate her life as a wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother, remembering all the good times. Memorial donations to Belle Plaine High School Alumni Association or Belle Plaine Library.