Josephine Murl (Townsend) Payne-Rhea

Josephine Murl (Townsend) Payne-Rhea, age 80 passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at her home in Idabel, OK. She was born February 18, 1943 in Farris, OK, the daughter of LP "Bill" Townsend and Vallie Hicks Townsend.

Jo went to school and worked hard to receive her Associates Degree as a Registered Nurse. She was a force to be reckoned with, where the doctors were concerned and always had her patient’s best interest in mind. After Jo retired, she had numerous patients remind her that they were her patient and many times she could tell them a story about that patient from the past.

She found great joy in cooking cakes for her many friends; although Jo did not like to eat cake. She put great care into baking her cakes and did not cook them when it was raining, the weather had to be just right. Jo enjoyed reading and could often be found reading on her kindle or playing games.

Jo loved her family profusely, but most of all she loved her Lord. Her Church family was very important to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dr. Thomas Rhea; her brothers, Charles Townsend, Harmon Townsend; a sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Smoke Bonnett; step-father, OC "Doc" Hicks; special friend, Mary Mills.

Jo is survived by her sister, Pamela Sander and Randy of Broken Bow, OK; several great-nieces, nephews; her special friend, Virginia Michaels of Paris, TX; other relatives and many friends. 

The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 20, 2022 at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 21, 2022 at the White Family Chapel in Idabel, OK with David Flanary and John Franks and Chad Rutherford officiating. Entombment will follow at the Denison Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Gideons, St. Jude’s, Shriner’s or a church of your choice.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.whitefamilyfh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Josephine Murl (Townsend) Payne-Rhea, please visit our floral store.