Erma L. Boles, 94, of Olathe, KS, formerly of Seneca and Topeka, died Wednesday, December 12, 2001, at Centers for Long-term Care in Olathe, where she had been a patient for a short time.

She was born April 13, 1907, in Courtland, NE, the daughter of James and Christine Schell. She grew up there and graduated from Courtland High School in 1924. Following high school, she attended a business college in Lincoln.

She was married to Francis Riley and they lived in Lincoln and Hallam, NE. They were later divorced. She was employed as a telephone operator at Hallam. In 1939 she moved to Seneca, KS. She married Clarence Boles on January 3, 1941, in Pawnee City, NE. He preceded her in death on January 10, 1984.

She and her husband Clarence owned and operated the Nighthawk Tavern on Main Street in Seneca, which they sold in 1952. Erma was also employed at the Paramount Cleaners in Seneca. They owned and operated the Pontiac Agency in Seneca from 1941 to 1952. In 1953 they moved to Topeka where she was employed by the State of Kansas in the centralized mailroom. Later she worked as a PBX operator for the State of Kansas until her retirement in 1972. She moved to an assisted living center in Gardner, KS, in November of 2000. Following a hip fracture, she moved to Villa of St. Francis in Olathe on March 13, 2001. She attended the Catholic Church.

Survivors are a son, Larry Riley of Olathe; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister Hollis Geistlinger.

Graveside services will be 11 A.M. Saturday, December 15, at the Seneca City Cemetery. Family and friends will meet at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Saturday at 10:30 AM and proceed to the cemetery.

Memorials may be given for Crossroads Hospice of Kansas City, 7611 State Line, Kansas City, MO 64114.