Josphine R. Willford

Josephine R. Fox Willford
October 15 1914–April 12, 2012 Josephine was born to early North Park Pioneers, Casper and Amanda Smith Fox, on the family ranch below the North Sand Hills East of Cowdrey on October 15, 1914 and passed away at Brighton Ridge Nursing Home in Eureka Springs, AR., on April 12, 2012 at the age of 97. She attended grade school in Cowdrey and high school in Denver and Kansas City before returning to keep books and work in the Cowdrey store for her parents. She married Robert K. Bert Willford on April 20, 1935 at the church in Walden. She and Bert started the Monarch Garage in 1938 later known as Willford Motors; she was the bookkeeper for the garage, the Cowdrey Fire Department, and the Cowdrey Power and Light Company. Bert and Josephine sold the garage in 1958 and started Willford Ranches where she was involved with daily operations. Josephine was a school board member for two years and on the Election Board for 35 years as Judge and one year as secretary, two terms as president of the Cowdrey Community Club, one year as President of the Women's Club, and two years as president of the Business and Professional Woman's Club. She has been a member of the Rebekah Lodge #42 since 1953 where she held offices and was a member of the drill team. She was baptized into the Cowdrey Covenant Church and helped to raise the money to build the church. She was also a longtime member of the North Park Cattlewomen Association. In 2002 Josephine was honored by the Never Summer Rodeo for over 110 years of her family history, her life in, and her love of North Park. She and Bert spent 25 years wintering in Apache Junction, AZ until Bert passed away in January of 2001. She then spent three more winters there before moving to Collinwood Assisted Living in Fort Collins, CO. In July of 2008 she moved to Brighton Ridge Nursing Home in Eureka Springs, AR to be near her daughter, Shirley and son-in-law, David Bird. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bert and one grandson, James Jim D. Bird, Jr. She is survived by one daughter, Shirley David Bird of Eureka Springs, AR; two sons, Larry Joan Willford of La Porte, CO and Leon Debbie Willford of Cowdrey, CO; four grandchildren, Connie Jo Steve Barnes of La Porte, CO, Debbie Bird Colvin of Eureka Springs, AR, Rusty Willford of La Porte, CO, and Ty Lee Willford of Cowdrey, CO; five great-grandchildren, Cory Lindsey Barnes and Ross Shannon Barnes, Kyle Willford, Alissha Willford all of La Porte, CO, Brittany Hoyt of Seymour, TX, and Shaelynn Willford of Montrose, CO, five great-great grandchildren, Natalie, Tanner, Allyson and Camryn Barnes of La Porte, CO, and Kyson Hoyt of Seymour, TX; many nieces, nephews and numerous friends in Arizona and Colorado. A Funeral Service was held held at North Park Community Church, Walden, Colorado on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Interment followed at Jackson County Cemetery, Walden, Colorado. Memorial contributions can be made to Older Adult Transportation Services OATS in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524.