Erma Butterfield was a brilliant dancer and an icon of Bermuda in her heyday.

The mother of two, who was described as “a ray of sunshine”, has died at the age of 87.

“From what I can gather, dancing was her life,” her daughter, Renee Lawrence, said. “They said she was a brilliant dancer — that she had great poise.”

Ms Lawrence said she and her husband, Bryan Butterfield, danced in both Bermuda and Jamaica during the Fifties and early Sixties.

They would make the most of the tourist season on the island and work in Jamaica during Bermuda’s off-season, she added.

“My mom was also one of the first majorette leaders,” Ms Lawrence said.

Erma Butterfield was Mr Butterfield’s first wife. He later married Sandy Butterfield, who described Erma Butterfield as a “beautiful woman and a talented dancer”.

“There are several newspaper articles and photos of them strutting down Front Street in the Easter Lily Parade in the Fifties with the North Village Majorettes and backed by the North Village Band. The cheers from the crowds certainly let you know that this majorette group was the community favourite.

“Erma and Bryan Butterfield were certainly icons ‘back in the day’,” she said, adding that when they first started dancing they were known by the stage names Markette and Lucinda. “As we listen to entertainers talking about the ‘good old days’, we hear that Erma performed at the Colonial Opera House and gave an exhibition on majorette drills and dance steps.

“Erma, along with Bryan, Kenny Bean and King Trott performed every winter in Montego Bay, Jamaica in all the major hotels,” she added. Ms Butterfield’s first dance partner was Vince Godfrey, with whom she danced at the St George Hotel.

She also had a lead role in the Boat In the Bottle show that was produced by Gregory Gordon and performed at the Castle Harbour Hotel.

“It was her passion to train young persons to dance and two of her protégées were Barbara and June who were known as the ‘Mambo Tots’ and performed in our major hotels nightly.”

According to Sandy Butterfield, Erma Butterfield received the Founders Award and Lifetime Achievement awards from the Bermuda Arts Council for her contribution to the arts and to tourism. She also modelled for the Department of Tourism in the Fifties and was honoured in May 24 parades.

Ms Butterfield was born in Bermuda to Arthur and Gunda Washington and had two daughters, Ms Lawrence and Yvette Butterfield. Ms Lawrence said her mother worked as a physical education teacher before she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer.

When she stopped dancing, she worked as a telephone operator for Cable and Wireless.

In 1976, Ms Butterfield had multiple sclerosis diagnosed and was forced to retire.

But Ms Lawrence said she always remained upbeat and grateful for life despite the dilapidating disease.

“She was always upbeat and happy even though she had this disease,” she said. “This was a woman who was athletic and a brilliant dancer, who couldn’t walk.”

Ms Lawrence said her mother, who lived at Summerhaven before moving to Lefroy House, would always say that she was “very well, thank you”.

Rosheena Masters, the administrator at Lefroy House in Sandys, described Ms Butterfield as a ray of sunshine who weathered her illness with grace.

“I would describe her as a very graceful individual,” she said. “She was very helpful, upbeat, just a ray of sunshine with a great sense of humour.”

Ms Masters added that Ms Butterfield got on well with other staff and made friends at Lefroy House, where she lived for 26 years after arriving in 1989.

“We were her family for 26 years, along with her biological family, of course. She is going to be a really great miss to Lefroy House.”

Ms Masters added: “When she came here she was mobile, independent. She lived her life the way she wanted to.”

But as her illness progressed, the staff tried to accommodate her as best they could, even inviting the majorettes to perform for her. “She was adventurous, spontaneous and fun. When she couldn’t do the things she used to, we tried to remember them for her.”

“Through this whole process, I never heard her complain,” Ms Masters added. “She will be missed by all the staff and elders.”