Josephine Upshaw

Mary Josephine Smith Upshaw, 95, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at a local nursing home. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the St. John’s United Methodist Church with Rev. John Erwin officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home.

Josephine was born April 11, 1914 in Spur, Texas to Joel and Edna Smith. She moved with her family to Stamford as a baby and lived there all her life. Josephine graduated Stamford High School in 1930 and went to work for the Bryant-Link Co. She married F. E. “Buster” Upshaw on her birthday in 1933. Josephine was a lifelong member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church in Stamford where she was very active in all areas of the church, including being a member of the choir, a youth director and a member of the United Methodist Women’s Organization for many years. Josephine was also a member of the Stamford Music Club and a charter member of the Stamford Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.

She is survived by 1 daughter, Betty Clark and husband Gerald of Stamford, 2 sons, Fred Upshaw Jr. of Fort Worth, and Joe Smith Upshaw and wife Janice of Morgan Mill, Texas, 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, and 1 sister, Margaret Smith Medley.

The family asks that memorials be sent to the St. John’s United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 1155, Stamford, Texas 79553