Josie Ownbey

Josie Mae (Huffman) Ownbey passed away Friday, January 15, 2010 after a brave fight against pancreatic cancer with her children by her side. Josie Mae was born on December 11, 1928 in Selman, OK to Jesse William and Ollie Mae (Weese) Huffman. Josie attended grade school in Waynoka and May, graduating in 1946 at Selman, OK. After graduation Josie worked at McIntyre Drug in Buffalo , OK . On February 7, 1952 Josie married Thomas Wayne (Bud) Ownbey in Wichita , KS where they started their own family. In Wichita she had worked at Dockom Drug Store and the Wichita State Bank. In 1967 the family moved to Spivey , KS where she worked at the Kingman County extension office and later retired from Cessna Aircraft in Wichita , after moving to Norwich , KS in 1976. Josie was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church of Wichita, but after moving to Norwich she was active in the Norwich Baptist Church . After “retiring” from Cessna she always kept busy. She enjoyed working with the Election Board of Kingman County, Norwich Township . Josie worked several years at Farrar Corporation in Norwich and she was a Companion/Aide thru the State of Kansas for many citizens of the Norwich area. Josie enjoyed her time as a “Red Hat Lady” taking their small adventures. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who asked, whether it was baking for a social function, driving a friend to the doctor, or watching a loved one for others in the community.

Josie was preceded in death by her husband Wayne, her brother William (Bill) and her youngest son Dennis Ray.

Josie leaves as her survivors by her brother Walter (Huffy) Huffman and Dorothy of Enid, OK; Wanda Wyscaver of Buffalo, Ok and Velma and husband Gene Jones of Oklahoma City, OK, Sons Thomas Patrick, Jerry Wayne and wife Donna, and daughter Marcie Mae and Brain Coppage, all of Wichita; Grandchildren Nancy and husband Mike Marshall of Hazleton, KS, Michael and wife Ashley Boyle of Irving, TX, Jennifer and Brady Burtchett of Eureka, CA, Jared and wife Cyndi Ownbey of Potwin, KS, Kevin Ownbey of Wichita, KS, Kayla and husband Bobby Whiteside of Potwin, KS, Devin and wife Christine Smallwood of Udall, KS, Joseph and Sara Waddell of Wichita; and 12 great-grand children. She is loved and will be missed by many friends and relatives.