Funeral services for Josephine Jo Smith, 86 year-old Weatherford, Oklahoma resident, will be held Friday, February 28, 2014, 2:00 P.M. at the First Christian Church of Hydro, Oklahoma with Rick Dyson officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home.

Jo was born September 12, 1927 on the family farm west of Weatherford, Oklahoma to parents Ray D. and Alice (Smith) Smith and went to her heavenly home on February 26, 2014 surrounded by family and love at her home in Weatherford, Oklahoma at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 14 days.

She and her siblings spent much of their childhoods with their loving grandparents, Martha and Allie Smith. Jo started her working career early at the age of 14 with her first job as a waitress at the Clinton Bus Station Coffee Shop. She attended grade school at Gyp Hill School west of Weatherford and continued her education at Weatherford High School graduating in 1945.

Josephine was baptized in 1951 at the Hinton Baptist Church. She rededicated her life in 1999 at the Assembly of God church of Weatherford.

Jo married Howard James Smith on November 29, 1947 in Amarillo, Texas. From this union they had six children. Early in their marriage Howard and Jo lived in Geary and Hinton and in 1956 moved to the farm south of Hydro where they raised their six children until 1971. Along with helping Howard with farming, homemaking and caring for her children, Jo worked as a waitress at local restaurants. Jo began waitressing at the Cherokee Restaurant near Clinton in 1968 and in 1971 she and Howard took over management of the business. This would begin their start of a twenty year restaurant business moving to the PorterHouse Restaurant in Weatherford from 1976 to 1979, returning to the Cherokee from 1979 to 1985, then ending with HoJos in Weatherford from 1985 to 1991 when they retired. During those years of business many local patrons and employees became part of her extended family.

Jo was a protective and giving mother and grandmother, a devoted wife, a loving sister and a loyal friend. She was a resilient matriarch who worked hard to care for her family and was always there for them when they needed her.

Jo enjoyed traveling, including adventures to China and Thailand. She journeyed through most of the United States including trips to Hawaii and many road trips to places like California, Maine and Florida. She also enjoyed shopping, mostly buying things for her loved ones and not for herself. In her later years, she enjoyed watching Thunder Basketball and watching the Price is Right was a week day staple in her life. But her greatest joy throughout her life came from spending time with her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ray D. and Alice Smith, her husband Howard and one grandson, Kyle Elkins. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Jack Smith and two sisters, Bessie Jean Reynolds and Martha (Myrt) McLemore.

Jo is survived by her two sons, JD Smith and his wife Barbara of Odessa Texas, Gary Smith and his wife Nina of Weatherford, and one step-son, Harold Jo Smith and his wife Virginia of Schertz Texas, four daughters, Linda A. Smith, Cathy J. Chisum and her husband Bob, Karen Elkins and her husband Rex, and Nita Haub and her husband Terry all of Weatherford. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Harold Smith and his wife Barbara of Clinton and Glenn Smith and his wife LaNell of Bessie and many adored nieces and nephews.