May 2, 1937 – Jan. 29, 2012

MIDLAND, Texas — Services for Josephine Marie Stewart, 74, of Midland, Texas, who died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, following a brief illness, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Reid officiating.

Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home in Midland.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Stewart was born May 2, 1937, in Natchez, the daughter of Thomas Henry Cook and Camella Adeline Cook.

Josephine (Jo) married Edwin Morrell Stewart May 30, 1953, in Natchez, and moved to Midland in 1955, where they raised their five children. They owned M&J Construction and Jo worked at the Midland Hilton in the accounting department of the past 18 years.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years; children, Ed Stewart and wife, Kim, of Brownwood, Texas, Vernon Stewart and wife, Stephanie, of Highland Village, Texas, Maureen Wells and husband, Jimmy, of Forney, Texas, Lynn Stewart-Pope of Leakey, Texas and Rusty Stewart and wife, Terresa, of Andrews, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Leukemia Research Foundation, 3520 Lake Ave., Suite 202, Wilmette, IL 60091-1064 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be sent to www.ellisfunerals.com.