Josephine "Jo" Maria Rae

Josephine “Jo” Maria Rae was born November 9, 1923 to James Hood and Lillian (Saunders) Brown in Sweetwater, Texas.

Jo grew up in the small town of Sweetwater and lived with her parents, her brother, William and grandmother, Lucynthia.

During her school years, she excelled academically; advancing three grades, and graduating high school at age 15!

The following fall, she moved to Boston, Mass. where she attended college, earning her B.S. Degree and her Registered Nursing License.

She then moved to Vallejo, California in 1945 and married Max H. Rae.

They bought their first home in Vallejo and started a family; a son, Gary Rae and a daughter, Pamela (Rae) Rowe.

Jo worked as an RN for two private practices: Dr. Milo and Dr. Raskin for 27 years.

After the passing of her husband Max in 1972 she later remarried a retired Air Force Pilot, Roger Goodnow, whom owned a local car dealership. Jo enjoyed the change of career in the car dealership and handled all the DMV and financing documents.

Following the passing of Roger, and the closing of the car dealership, Jo retired and began the wonderful hobby of stamp and view card collecting. She belonged to the American Philatelic Society and participated in local club meetings and conventions in San Francisco where she made new friends with common interests.

In 2004, she moved to Grants Pass, Oregon to live with her daughter, Pam, son-in-law, Rod and granddaughter, Jessica Rowe. She thrived in our family atmosphere.

Going to the mailbox was exciting for all of us, as Jo received correspondence from all over the world including Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, etc.

“Grandma Jo” was a loving part of everyday family life. She enjoyed helping prepare special family dinners for birthdays and holiday celebrations. She was actively stamp trading and view card corresponding on a daily basis right up to the end of her life. She was happy, she was very much loved and she will be greatly missed by all her family.

Jo passed away on February 27, 2013 at the age of 89 after a fall and injury.

She is survived by son, Gary; daughter-in-law, Laura; daughter, Pam; son-in-law, Rod; six grandchildren, Rebecca, Ryan, Daniel, Molly, Lisa and Jessica and two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Brady.