Ohra Josephine Ashcraft's Obituary
ASHCRAFT, Josephine Crawford 89, passed away Thursday May 5, 2011. Born September 19, 1921 in McAlester, OK Josephine was as famous for her kitchen table meals and her bountiful cooking of fried potatoes, gravy and homemade yeast rolls as she was her vegetable and flower gardens, Josephine thrived on feeding her family, her friends family and anyone else who stepped foot in her house.. No one ever left the Ashcraft home hungry, and most left with 'to go' plates or jars of something wonderful she had home grown and canned. She grew beautiful red roses and lined their yard with rose bushes and her gorgeous giant yellow cannas'. All the houses along Newton Place had cannas' from starts of hers, but no ones grew like Josephine's. She was truly gifted with a green thumb. She loved to go fishing with Hollis and always had a 'specially treated' bait to use. She loved to make dough balls from Wheaties and Strawberry Soda Pop, and always treated her minnow with a few drops of Anise Oil before she dropped her hook in the water. Back home she would fry up their catch and watch the family wolf it down with great pride in her eyes. Family was her pride and joy. She would drop anything she was doing to help them or listen to them. Her four children, Lewis, Ron, Beverly and Cathy each knew her eternal love and devotion to them. She was always the bond and the strength that held the family together. Brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins all knew that she would be there to help with anything they needed and would always be a ready ear to listen to them while handing them a big glass of her sweet iced tea. When grandbabies came to Josephine's life, she found her true calling. She had eight grandchildren, Kevin, Brian, Karla, Lewis Jr., Tim, Michelle, Christina and Gary Jr., and from Kevin the oldest, to Gary the youngest, each and every one had a special place in her heart, and she had a huge piece of every one of their hearts. She was so proud of each and every one and loved them all without limits. Life only improved, when great grandbabies started to appear. She had another generation to spoil, love, and cherish. God blessed her with Chase, Cole, Andi, Kolby, Dylan, Alyssa, Joe and Trevor and three great-great grandchildren, Darrell, Kaysiha, and Cadance, that she unfortunately didn't get to meet before her passing. A devoutly Christian woman, Josephine was a long time member of the North Sheridan Church of Christ and in her later years the East Central Church of Christ in Tulsa. She was preceded in death by her husband and soul mate of 46 years, Hollis, as well as her parents, Joe and Minnie Belk Crawford, 2 brothers, Alfred and Joe Edward Crawford, and two sisters. Dixie Bell Crawford and MaeDell Crawford Dalmont. She is survived by her children, Lewis and Beverly Ashcraft of Modesto CA, Ron Ashcraft and Bryce McKinney of Eufaula, Beverly and John Malloy of Tulsa, and Cathy and Gary Garrison of Norman, OK. Grandchildren Kevin Ashcraft, Brian Ashcraft , Karla Ashcraft of Olathe KS, Tim and Brandi Malloy of Catoosa, Michelle and Shane Chambers of Broken Arrow, Christina and Keith Gillette of Glenpool, Lewis Ashcraft Jr of Monroe, OH, Gary and Jennifer Garrison of Moore, OK, 3 sisters, Delores Johnson of McAlester, Anthia and Darrell Kirk of McAlester, Lucille Allen of Arkansas and many, many loving great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
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