Josephine M. Stoops, the daughter of Calvin Roark and Elizabeth Spacek Roark was born on September 25th, 1930 in Summersville, MO and passed away July 3rd, 2024 at the age of 93.
Jo was a lifelong resident of Summersville. She graduated from Summersville High School, where she loved playing volleyball with her best friend Bessie Faye. She started dating Andy her Junior year and spent many Saturday afternoons helping him at the local movie theater.
Jo was united in marriage to Andy on March 20th, 1948 in Salem, AR. They were married for 66 years before his passing. To this union four children were born, Roger, Ron, Ann and Rocky.
Jo was saved and baptized at a young. She attended church at Hartshorn Assembly of God and enjoyed reading her Bible.
Jo always considered her occupation as a homemaker, but that doesn’t even begin to describe the countless jobs and hard-work that filled her life on the farm with Andy and in the home with her family. Jo and Andy worked side by side on the farm, she hauled lumber from the mill, fed cows and raked hay. She often said the early years were hard-work, but they did it together.
Jo prided herself on having a big garden and a variety of flower beds, where she was often found working and filling her many hummingbird feeders.
Her greatest joy was found in her kitchen where she spent endless hours cooking meals that always included coconut cream pie, peach cobbler and rolls. She cooked daily for the mill crew, hay haulers and most importantly family and friends. She often reminded us, “You can’t do anything on an empty stomach.”
There were things at Grandma Jo’s house that could always be counted on, iced tea in the fridge and a fresh pot of coffee. Sausage and biscuits would be ready early every Sunday morning and dinner was served at noon, a favorite being her homemade chicken and noodles. All the fixings would be on the dining room table, often not having room for another dish. Once in a while she and Grandpa would slip down to their place on Norfolk Lake to fish or go over to Branson to watch a show. We would find a note on the counter that would simply say, “Gone to the Lake.”
Jo believed in family traditions, she had many that her family will cherish forever, especially her grandkids and great grandkids. Jo always wanted all the family together to celebrate many holidays. Deer season always meant a big pot of chili, homemade doughnuts and popcorn bars. It wasn’t Christmas without her famous punch and homemade candy. The 4th of July always included her patriotic dessert, with the American flag on top. In more recent years she enjoyed preparing meals with Ms. Rena for the little ones at Bright Beginnings, where many of her great, great grandchildren attended.
In her free time Jo was an avid reader and loved to read Louis Lamar books, watch westerns and her “stories.”
Jo is preceded in death by her husband Andy, her daughter Ann, and her brother Bill. She is survived by her sons, Roger and wife Dottie, Ron and wife Debbie, Rocky and wife Vicki, all of Summersville. She was blessed with many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren who loved her dearly. While we will miss her so, we rejoice that she is finally Home.
