Josephine 'Jo' Maggard

Josephine “Jo” Maggard was born on Dec. 4, 1921, in Pettigrew, Alaska. She passed peacefully into her heavenly father’s arms May 7, 2009, in Kalispell, Mont., where she was a resident at Heritage House. She was 87 years old.

As a young girl in Arkansas, Josephine was the middle child of five sisters: Opal, Eva, Myrtle and Phyllis. Her childhood was spent on the family farm in Arkansas and provided her many happy memories. She met the love of her life, Loyd “Art” Maggard, in 1940. They married in March of that same year just as WWII was beginning. Josephine was an active supporter of the war effort and worked in a factory that sent supplies to our troops overseas. In 1945 after Art returned from the war, they moved to the state of Washington. Five children were born to Art and Josephine. Her passion in life was raising her children and taking care of her husband. Josephine and Art loved to sing and play music in their local church where they brought joy to many. She also loved to watch her boys play football, and seldom if ever missed a Soap Lake high school football game. She was their number one fan and supporter.

Josephine, or Mama Jo, as she liked to be called, was preceded in death by her husband Loyd and daughter Debbie Goodwin of Milton Freewater, Ore. She is survived by her daughter Barbara and her husband Brian Frank of Kalispel, Mont., her son Loyd (Tony) and his wife Linda of Dunnellon, Fla., her son Frank and his wife Debbie of Ephrata, and her son Tim and his wife Carla of Ellensburg, Wash. Josephine was the grandmother of 13 children and the great-grandmother of 15 children. She was loved by them all and will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Her laughter and music always made you smile. We will always remember her kind and gentle ways and she will be greatly missed.

Friends and family are coming together to celebrate and remember Josephine’s life. This celebration and service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 at the Soap Lake Assembly of God church, located at 319 Fifth Ave. S.E., Soap Lake, WA. Phone: 509-246-1444.

 The family requests that all donations please be sent to the Soap Lake Assembly of God.