Our loving mother, Josephine Friedaricka Groth Cook of Victoria, TX passed peacefully from her earthly body on March 2, 2022 surrounded by angels waiting to escort her beautiful soul to her eternal home in Heaven. She was Mama, Sister, Meme, Grandma Cookie, Auntie Jo , and to her many friends “Jo”.
Josephine was born in Victoria TX on April 29, 1926 to the late County Commissioner August W. Groth and Bessie Stafford Groth of Inez, TX. She was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.
Her priority in life was to love God, family and herself last. She was so concerned about those less fortunate that after reciting the Lord’s Prayer she would add “May everyone have fresh water to drink and food to eat. May everyone have shelter. May we walk in Your ways to the glory of your Holy Name. Amen”.
She was an extremely gifted, talented, loving, kind person who wore many hats.: seamstress, clerk, bookkeeper, chef, explorer (always planning the next trip while she was travelling), caregiver, bird watcher, dancer, mind reader (she always knew what we were thinking). She could make, mend, or fix anything. Her dad had told her “If someone made it, he could also make it or fix it”. Her work ethics were without reproach. She spoiled her daughters by making all their clothing, even their wedding gowns. She was such a meticulous seamstress that people commented they could wear the clothing she made inside out because they were so perfectly stitched. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, knitting. If it had a needle and thread attached, she was diving in. She was generous to a fault especially with her children and grandchildren. When unexpected guests arrived at mealtime, she always had enough to feed them too. She loved to travel and had been to nearly every state. Her longest voyage was to the Philippine Islands where her first husband was stationed following WWII. She was quite the adventurer and scholar; always learning something new.
Josephine was unable to graduate with her class due to a terrible accident she was in that took many months of healing and rehabilitation. She had promised her principle that one day she would graduate and was very proud to be able to contact him when she received her diploma some years later. She was very patriotic and was a member of VFW and American Legion.
She attended concerts in her younger years and once saw Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. While working at a small boutique downtown, she actually met and waited on Loretta Lynn. The story goes that Ms. Lynn just walked in one day and Jo waited on her. Not too many people in the small town of Victoria have that bragging right.
She is survived by her daughters Frieda Watson Miller (Arlen), Patsy Watson Johnston Whitaker (Jimmy) and Janet Maxey Elizondo (David); grandchildren Arlen Miller, Jr. (Sherri), Darren Miller (Laura) and Patrick W. Johnston (Stefani); great grandchildren Ashleigh Post (Travis), Matthew Miller (Sebbie), Raylee Johnston and Robyn Johnston; Meagan Oehlke (Patrick), Erin Pahmiyer (Ryan), Shannon Frick (Brandon); great great grandchildren Brooke Post, Landon Post, Hudson Miller; Scarlet and Weston Oehlke, Madison, Makinzie and Aubrey Pahmiyer, Addison Hempel; extended family: Myke Whitaker, Valerie, Skylar, Makalyn and Makenzie Singh; Brandy Lee and Frank Eschenburg Jr; numerous cherished nieces and nephews.
Josephine is preceded in death by husbands Welton Watson, James Maxey and Gwin Cook; parents August and Bessie Groth; brother Charles Stafford Clayton; sisters Joy Christian (Melvin) and Bernice Hajek (Jerry); nephew August Glenn Christian, and her beloved chihuahua Dolly.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 9:00 until 10:00 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 4102 N. Ben Jordan, Victoria, TX 77904 with the funeral service to begin immediately after at 10:00. Pastor La will officiate. Burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Arlen Miller, Jr., Darren Miller, Patrick Johnston, Matthew Miller, Garrett Egg and Travis Post. Honorary pallbearers are Arlen Miller, David Elizondo, Janie Santillana, Dr. Meyer, nurses and staff at Hospice of South TX, Father Patrick and Father Albert.
Special thanks to Dr. Meyer and all the nurses and staff at Hospice of South TX who so tenderly and lovingly cared for our mom; also Janie Santillana her companion and friend and all those who prayed for her.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Texas, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church or donor’s choice.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
