Josephine Buford Siegfried

Josephine Buford Siegfried

Josephine ("Jo") Buford Siegfried, beloved as a wife, a mother, and a friend to so many, died on April 5, 2025, having embraced the full measure of the 61 years she was given upon this earth.

Jo was born to C. Robert Buford and Martha C. Buford in Wichita, Kansas on February 8, 1964. She graduated from Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita in 1982. She attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, graduating with a degree in government in 1986. She then worked as a financial analyst for Salomon Brothers and Brown Brothers Harriman in New York City, before moving to Tulsa in 1994 to work as a portfolio manager with Zenith Drilling Corporation.

In 1999, Jo married the love of her life, Tulsa native Raymond ("Tray") H. Siegfried III. Jo was a full partner in Tray's professional life, including 12 years as owner and CEO of Vertical Aerospace in Bristow and 31 years of service in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, which culminated in his commissioning as a brigadier general and appointment as Assistant Adjutant General Air Oklahoma, and Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander, Continental U.S NORAD Region, 1st Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Florida. Jo was incredibly proud of Tray's service and being a military spouse and family. Supporting him and all men and women in the service and their families, especially the 138th Fighter Wing, was a source of great joy and value for her. Through the challenges which accompanied these formidable endeavors, their love held firm as a constant pillar of strength for them both. She was involved in numerous philanthropic organizations, where her warm compassion, keen intelligence, judiciousness, and financial acumen helped these organizations and the thousands of people they benefitted. She served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Tulsa, and on the boards of The Salvation Army, and Monte Cassino School.

Their love found its greatest expression and most enduring monument in their children, Ray, Bob, Josie, and Ford. Jo was a loving and far-sighted mother, and one of her deepest desires was to pass on to them the values which she cherished, each of which was rooted strongly in her Christian faith. Kindness, modesty, self-restraint, diligence, generosity, and empathy for the needs and experiences of others were all qualities which she sought to instill as a parent.

Jo was devoted to forming each one of them as individuals, and always supported them in the development of their unique passions and talents. She deeply valued education, not only as the accumulation of knowledge but as the pursuit of wisdom, and wanted others to benefit from the same opportunities which she was able to provide to her children. She was a generous supporter of schools including Bishop Kelley High School and Monte Cassino School in Tulsa, Aspen High School in Aspen, Colorado, Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colorado, and Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana.

Jo set an example for the practice of these virtues in all of her relationships. Though she was by nature a quiet and private person, those familiar with her know that she was also opinionated and sharp witted, with a zeal for language. She always sought to move beyond banalities and discuss the matters of real importance. Her friends cherished their long, meaningful conversations with Jo. She took a real interest in the experiences and struggles of all those she met along the road of life, treating each as equally worthy of respect and consideration. She was a mentor to many, and always ready to provide counsel and assistance to anyone in need, in matters great and small.

The ultimate source which animated her love for family, friends, and neighbors was her abiding love for the God who reveals Himself in Jesus Christ, and her experience of being loved by Christ, whom "we loved because he first loved us." Her foremost desire was to share this love with others. An aspect of her lifelong journey with Christ which was particularly important to her was her initiation into the Catholic faith of her husband Tray. Through it, she experienced the fullest expression of Christ's love. She was a longtime parishioner of Christ the King in Tulsa and also of St. Mary in Aspen, Colorado.

Jo found special peace and spiritual nourishment at her husband's alma mater, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. She was an ardent supporter of the entire Notre Dame community including student life, the Center for Ethics and Culture and the Congregation of Holy Cross. She appreciated the intellectual formation which Notre Dame offers as well as contemplative walks around its lakes and attending daily Mass. She had great admiration and respect for the Holy Cross priests, a number of whom became dear friends and confidants. She will be laid to rest at Notre Dame.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond H. Siegfried III, and children, Raymond H. Siegfried IV, Charles Robert Buford Siegfried, Josephine Sharp Siegfried and Samuel Buford Siegfried, her father, C. Robert Buford, brother R. C. Buford, and sister Anne S. Buford. Her mother Martha C. Buford predeceased her. Memorial donations may be made to Monte Cassino School (online at https://www.montecassino.org/gifts-in-memoriam; checks may be mailed to 2206 S. Lewis Ave. Tulsa, OK 74114) or the RISE program at Marquette Catholic School (online at https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/christthekingcatholic; checks may be mailed to 1519 S. Quincy Ave. Tulsa, OK 74120).