Sarah Mae Josey

A lovely, caring, gentle lady, Sarah Mae Josey, 97, began rejoicing in heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Memorial services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Highland Park Freewill Baptist Church, 1402 East Sixth, Stillwater.Sarah was born to Hugh Ward and Mary Frances (Woods) Looney in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1910, then moved with her family to DuQuoin, Ill., and attended high school there.In 1931, she married the love of her life, Grady O. Josey. Their Rush Springs farm produced cattle, watermelons and peanuts and was a favorite family gathering place. Though they never had children of her own, she was devoted to her four nephews’ care after the death of their mother.After Grady’s death in 1960, she moved into town where she was the cook in Rush Springs Nursing Home, where she also cared for her mother. She later co-owned and operated for it seven years.At various times, she also lived in Lawton, Rush Springs again, then Norman.She was a faithful member of the Church of Christ.In 1994, she came to Stillwater to live with her nephew, Charles and Donna Cook, where she was known as “Aunt Sarah” to everyone. She was a marvelous cook; her cookies and candies were always in demand. She greatly enjoyed playing Spades and wore out many decks of cards trying to beat Ol’ Sol. Due to poor health, in 2007 she made a final move to Grace Living Center where she lived contentedly until her death.In addition to her husband, Sarah was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Dorothy Looney and Bob and Mary Cook; nephews, Bobby and Francis “Jack;” and great-niece, Sandy Cook.She is survived by her nephews, Jerry (Sue) Cook and Charles (Donna) Cook; numerous great-nephews and great-nieces, including Mike (Karen) Cook, John (Sharon) Cook, Kevin (Shelly) Cook and Sarah Simpson, all of Stillwater, Mary (Steve) Going, Cushing, Diane Cook, Coyle and Sandra Furughi, Tempe, Ariz.; special friends, the Carl and Margaret Wehr family; and many friends and extended family members.
Published in the Stillwater NewsPress from 6/18/2008 - 6/20/2008.