Josephine E Moon's Obituary
Josephine Esther Moon, age 99, passed away on August 22, 2023 at her home in Puyallup, WA with her two daughters and son there to comfort her. She was known as Mom, Grandma Moon, Jo, Aunt Josie, or simply Josie by those who loved her. Her children are telling her life story for you here and we are calling her Mom for you.
Mom was born on March 18, 1924, to Claud and Emma Sharp on their homestead in the Badlands in Conata, South Dakota. She was the 11th child of 17 children born to them, of which only her brother Erney is still with us. Mom and 15 of her siblings were born at home, with only her youngest brother Benny being born in a hospital. Mom often spoke of the hardships they experienced in the Badlands, but she also shared with family and friends the fond memories of their life there. Mom’s faith was shaped by her family early on when she witnessed her Mother’s healing from near death to good health after prayer by a minister and her father. Her faith remained with her throughout her life. Her Bible and her daily devotion were always nearby.
Mom moved with her parents from Conata to Wessington Springs, South Dakota in her teen years. Mom credited President Roosevelt for helping them move because of the hardships they and other farmers were experiencing in the Badlands. Mom said it was like a new life opened up for all of them. She attended high school in Wessington Springs until leaving school to take care of her maternal Grandma Williams. Mom recalled the beginning of WWII when her Pop, who was listening to the radio on the front porch, came in and said “We will be at war by tonight, they just bombed Pearl Harbor.” During the war, Mom relocated to California to be near siblings and where she learned to become a welder in the shipyards. She continued to weld in the shipyards in Tacoma after relocating to Washington State, and settling in the Yelm area. She earned a Certificate of Achievement from Todd Pacific Shipyards in Tacoma on October 14, 1944, for successfully passing the Navy Qualification Test No. One for Welder. She spoke about continuing to weld on military ships until WWII ended. She said she was the last female welder to be let go after the war. After the war Mom remained in the Yelm area. She and her siblings moved their parents to Yelm, purchasing a home for them. While living in Yelm, Mom met Julia Martini, and they became best friends. Mom often spoke of the many adventures she and Julia had, from attending dances to hitchhiking from work in the area. Julia was Mom’s Maid of Honor when she married our Dad, Raymond Moon, in 1946. Our Dad comes from a family of 13 children, and upon marrying our Mom, he would say that they both gained many more brothers and sisters.
After marrying, Mom and Dad moved to Bellingham, WA in 1946. Their first two children, Patricia and Don were born in Bellingham. They relocated to Tacoma 5 years later where their remaining children, Jim, Kathy, and Julie were born. They lived in a few homes in the Tacoma and Sumner area before settling into their first home that they purchased in South Tacoma. They remained in that home until moving in 1991 to their last home in Puyallup’s South Hill area. Where ever Mom lived, she made many nice, caring, and lifelong friends.
Mom primarily worked in the food industry after her marriage. She was first a homemaker before working for a nursing home, Nalley’s Fine Foods, the Pantry Restaurant at the newly opened Tacoma Mall, and in the kitchen on the tray line and dietician areas of both the old and the new St. Joseph Hospital and the Puyallup Fair.
Mom cherished life, helping others and being with family and friends. She was a longtime member of the South Tacoma Christian Church. She enjoyed the company of family and friends, often having them over for dinner and outdoor picnics. She also enjoyed embroidering, baking, canning, reading, writing letters and receiving them. She especially enjoyed traveling back to her home State of South Dakota, trips both in and out of state to visit family and other trips to the ocean beaches and Mt. Rainier National Park. Even though Mom described her life during her youth as hard without having much, she would tell people she never missed what she did not have, while adding she had a good life.
Mom is survived by her brother Erney (Barb), her sister in law Jean, her children Don, Jim (Sherri), Kathy (John), and Julie (Tony); her son in law Dean; 8 grandchildren Mike (Sabrina), Shelley (Tom), Tom (Christa), Anthony (Kim), Brad, Joey (Alex), Chrissy (Lindsay), and Corrin (Isaac); 10 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild and many nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her husband Raymond, her daughter Patricia; her granddaughter Vivian; her parents;15 brothers and sisters; and 12 brother and sister in laws.
To honor our Mom’s memory, we are holding a Celebration of Life at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 7, 2023 in the Aspen Chapel at Mountain View Memorial Park, Lakewood, WA. There will also be a viewing on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The Moon family would like to thank Pat for all her kindness and helping us caring for Mom over the last few years; Dr. Eduardo Cuevas for his many years of medical care for her; Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care, and Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. Our special thanks to her many family and friends, both young and old, who continued to visit or call throughout her life. It meant a lot to her and us. Thank you.
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