Erma J. Mulligan

Erma Jean Mulligan

Erma Jean Mulligan, 73, Topeka, died Thursday, June 10, 2004, at a Topeka nursing home. She was born Dec. 27, 1930, at Fairfax, Mo., the daughter of Clark T. and Hazel D. Wake Proud. Erma graduated from Topeka High School. She worked at McFarland Drug Store and Beatrice Foods. She was the co-owner and manager of Mulligan Van Lines for more than 40 years. She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. She married Thomas E. Milligan on Feb. 3, 1950, in Topeka. They divorced. Surviving are two daughters, Jeanie Erwin, Topeka, and Nancy Gerval, San Antonio; a son, Joseph Mulligan, Dallas; two sisters, Virginia Essman and Betty Smith, both of Topeka; a brother, C.F. Proud, Diamond Bar, Calif.; and grandchildren Kellie and Paul Cowan, Jason Bryan and Adam Gerval, and Erin and Allison Mulligan. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka. She will lie in state after 3 p.m. Tuesday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel in North Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Battered Women's Task Force, in care of the YWCA, 225 S.W. 12th, Topeka, 66612, or Prince of Peace Building Fund, 3625 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Topeka, 66614. Online condolences may be sent to penwellgabel.com.