Josephine Ida Fassel, 80, daughter of Arthur Garfield and Bessie Olivia (Parsons) Smith, was born June 13, 1923, in Lincoln, RI, and passed from this life on Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, in the Barone Alzheimers Care Center, Nevada.
Josephine attended school in Cranston, RI. She worked outside of the home in housekeeping and childcare.
Josephine met Albert Earl Fassel during a swimming party. They later married on Aug. 20, 1941, in the home of Pastor Herbert Johnson. Five children were born to their union. The couple moved west of Schell City in February 1942. A year later, Josephine moved back to Rhode Island to be near family while Albert was in the military.
After his military discharge, the family moved back to Missouri settling near Haley's Bluff where they lived in a tent until adequate housing became available. In 1950 Josephine began employment with the Nevada Habilitation Center. She also worked for Key Work Clothes, Nelly Don, the Tent Factory and Witt Printing.
In 1960 the family moved to Walker. After their retirement in 1976, they spent the winters in Texas until 1987 when they decided to stay there year round. They came back to Missouri in 1998 to be near family.
Josephine was a member of the Church of Christ in Schell City. She was a member of the Rebekah's Lodge in both Walker and Texas and the Lady of the Moose in Texas.
In August 2001, she and Albert celebrated their 60th wed¬ding anniversary.
Josephine was preceded in death by her parents; one brother; one sister; and infant daughter, Florence Olivia.
Survivors include her husband, Albert - of the home in Schell City; three daughters - Sharon Rose Mitchell and Alida Josephine Taylor - both of Walker, and Kathleen Alberta Robertson - Vancouver, WA; one son, Earl Joseph Fassel - Walker; one brother, Edward A. Smith - Andrews, SC; three sisters - Evelyn Sampson - Cranston, RI, Betty Constantineau - Providence, RI, and Rhodie Johnson - Porterville, CA; 14 grandchildren - Kelli Jones, Melody Bethards, Mark Mitchell, Leroy Taylor, Daren Taylor, Gary Taylor, Sherry Bigler, Kristy Meekins, Jeremy Watts, Angie Fassel, Rob Fas¬sel, Sam Robertson, Joshua Robertson and Rosanna Robertson; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Services were held Thursday, Dec. 4, in the Schell City Christian Church with Pastors Tim Brewer and Marvin Jamison officiating. Musical selections were provided by Sharon Goodman and the Souza family. Pallbearers were Mark Mitchell, Leroy Taylor, Daren Taylor, Gary Taylor, Gerald Jones and Rob Fassel. Honorary pallbearers were Jeremy Watts and Kelly Bethards. Interment was in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery near Walker under direction of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Barone Care Center in care of the funeral home.
