Emma Jean Josie Obituary (1929 - 2021)

Emma Jean Josie peacefully passed away from cancer on her 92nd birthday, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Nature chose the cause; she chose the day.) Emma Jean was born on June 23, 1929 to Alvin and Lottie Mae Maxwell in American Fork, Utah. She had three siblings and five half-siblings. She graduated Valedictorian from her high school class in Tabiona, Utah. She attended BYU and worked at the Church Office Building as a secretary before she married Darrell Henry Josie in the Salt Lake Temple on December 1, 1950. Emmie (as she was known to her sweetheart) was the mother of seven children, and they, along with her husband, were her life. She was a beloved wife and mother - a kind, compassionate, and non-judgmental lady who was cherished by all that knew her. Emmie loved to play board games, particularly Scrabble. She was known for placing a higher priority on learning than on winning. She was also a devotee of the game show “Jeopardy!” and was a fan of both Alex Trebek and Ken Jennings. She enjoyed watching old TV shows (Andy Griffith was a favorite), old movies (especially musicals), and years ago was entertained by the “Lawrence Welk Show.” Emmie was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully throughout her life in many callings. She and Darrell served two LDS missions together: the first to Zimbabwe, Africa and the second to Budapest, Hungary. Although these missions had a profound impact on her life, she had an equally profound impact on the people she served and was known and loved by them. Emmie also kept a journal religiously. Her numerous volumes recorded daily life - from the mundane, to the ordinary, to the extraordinary, to the miraculous. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; step-father, Russell “RW” Olson; step-mother, Louise Maxwell; siblings Wayne “Lefty”, Lawrence Ray, Mary Ann, and half-siblings Judy, Bruce, and Fern; children Barbara Josie, Jeanne Bryant, and Brett Josie; and granddaughter, Jacquie Bryant. She is survived by brothers Kevin Maxwell and Arthur Maxwell; children Sherrill (Ron) Whiting, Kim (Ernest) Hathaway, Tena (Fred) Parsell, and Michael (Cheryl) Josie; son-in-law, Bruce Bryant; daughter-in-law, Moya Josie; 19 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Caregiver Support Network for the loving service and tender care they showed our mother for the past year. A special thanks also to all the loving friends, neighbors, and ward members who have served her in so many ways over the years. In lieu of funeral services, a viewing will be held for all to pay their respects on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 from 6-8 pm, at the Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 4760 S. State Street, in Murray, Utah.