Armethia Simer, nee Schmalz, 99, of Valmeyer, died March 17, 2013.

She was born Jan. 19, 1914, in Valmeyer. She spent her last day playing cards with friends at Garden Place in Millstadt.

Armethia  was a 1932 graduate of Valmeyer High School and Christian Welfare School of Nursing in 1935, where she became a registered nurse. Armethia attended Saint Louis University for her public health work, and worked as a registered nurse until her retirement in 1975. Armethia was head nurse in the maternity ward of Christian Welfare Hospital.  Later, she worked for Dr. Scrivener for several years, and worked with the Visiting Nurse Association, East Side Health District and Belleville School District 118 as school nurse.

Armethia and her first husband, Ralph “Woody” Simer, retired to Tucson, Ariz., in 1975. After the death of her second husband, Leon Yeaton, she returned to the Millstadt area.

She was an active member of Al Sihah Temple #29 Daughters of the Nile, Zion Evangelical Church and the Nurses Association. In her leisure time, Armethia enjoyed traveling, golf, good restaurants and sharing time with family and friends. At age 80, she learned to drive a Winnebago so she could travel across the U.S.

Surviving relatives include sister Betty Jean Dieckmann of Belleville; sister-in-law Mariam Garrett of Salem; nieces Sandra (Thomas) Glauber and Linda Pistor of Millstadt; nephews Kenneth (June) Valentine of Waterloo, Ed Boyd of Salem, Michael Sipes of North Carolina and Tom Sipes; great-nieces and great-nephews; along with step-daughters: Connie Geraci of Maine, Ruth (Frank) Dubrawski of South Carolina, and Carolyn Preece of Maine.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Wilhelmina (nee Schilling) Schmalz; first husband Ralph “Woody” Simer; second husband Leon Yeaton; sister Helen Valentine in 2000; sister-in-law Geneva Boyd; and step-brother-in-law James Sipes.

Visitation is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at Kurrus Funeral Home, Belleville. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, Darrell Weber officiating. Interment will follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville. By her request, cremation was held.

Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital.