JOSEPHINE R. WEISMAN

Josephine (Jo) R. Weisman, 81, of Leawood, KS passed away at Kansas City Hospice, Saturday, April 16, 2011, with her family at her bedside. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Max J. Weisman, sister Mable Sirmans and brother J.B. Richardson. She is survived by two daughters Betty Jo Mardiat (Ed), Julie Johnson (Clint), four grandchildren Amy Nine (Chet), Andrew Mardiat, Jamie Greason (Zac), and Grant Johnson, sister Lillian Richardson and brother William D. Richardson both of Lakeland, GA and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jo was born in Lanier County, GA to John Ellis and Mattiebelle Richardson. She graduated high school at 16, was a nurse's aide in the local hospital, then went to nursing school in Macon. She met Max in Atlanta while working at the VA Hospital and they married in 1951 in Kansas City, MO. While Max served in the Army in Korea, Jo worked at the VA in KCMO. She stayed home to raise two girls then was a geriatric head nurse at Indian Creek Nursing Center for 18 years. After retirement she continued to enjoy her grandchildren, hosting family dinners on holidays, weekends at the lake-house and later, time in South Georgia. She was a petite, soft spoken, thoughtful, country lady who when asked by her granddaughter what word she would use to describe herself answered, "caregiver." That she was. Her greatest pleasure was caring for somebody whether patient, husband, family member or grandchild; it was her purpose in life. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes with service at 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Leawood United Methodist Church, 2915 W. 95 Street, Leawood, KS 66206 in her memory. Condolences may be made at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com. Mt Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home. 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO 64131. (816) 942-2004