Josephine “Josie” Jewett Underwood, beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend went to be with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ and her beloved husband Tom on July 24, 2018. Ruth King McIntire and Dana McIntire welcomed their daughter into their family of five on July 18,1932 in New London, Conn. Josie was predeceased by her husband Tom, parents, and siblings Dana and Charles.

Josie grew up in Bath and attended Central Grammar School and then Morse High School where she graduated with honors and was a member of the National Honor Society in the Class of 1950. While at Morse, she was a gifted varsity athlete and was captain of the basketball team and Blue & White Honors Team, volleyball, archery, softball, badminton, tumbling, and ping pong. Josie was a member of the “M” Club, exclusively for students who had earned a letter for sports. She was a member of the Girls’ Athletic Council which helped raise funds for awards. Josie was a tremendous leader and secretary of the Girls’ Leader Corps where she dedicated herself in building self-confidence in young women. She was the Girls’ Sports Editor for the Morse Mentor and did Girls’ Write-Ups for the Yearbook Staff. Josie shared her love of singing with the Glee Club and in the choir at the Central Congregational Church. Her love for dancing shone through each year in the school’s most popular activity MOHIBA, as well as recitals for ballet and tap, from private lessons, throughout her life.

Josie so loved her friends and Morse High School that she dedicated herself as 1950’s Class Agent and 68 years as a volunteer to the Bath High School Alumni Association. Her classmates wrote: “Vivacity personified is our Josie” and “she has a way of curing anything with her beautiful smile”.

It was there, too, Josie met the love of her life and classmate Tom Underwood. Tom always said, “Josie was the prettiest girl with those gorgeous “baby blue eyes”. They were married June 17, 1950 and had celebrated 61 years of love prior to Tom’s passing July 14, 2011. Josie was so proud of their life together and the family they had raised. She loved her husband and was a devoted wife.

After graduation, Josie began her loving role as “Mother” to her four children: Tommy, Chuck, Vicki, and Todd. She said “it was the best thing she had ever become, the greatest love she had ever felt, and the best part about being me”. Her family was everything to her, as she was to them. “Mom” never missed an activity her children were in; she was their biggest, loyal fan.

As her children grew, so did Josie’s gifts to her community. She served in all offices of the Huse School PTA for over 15 years, served as Superintendent of the primary department at Central Congregational Church for over 10 years, tutored children in the elementary schools for years, was instrumental in starting up the Bath Quarterback Club & concessions where she was known for her candy apples, a Girls Scout Assistant, a member of the Senior Citizens & baked for fundraising, former DARE Fair volunteer & baker of apple pies, which were sold before she walked into the room, to name a few.

Josie managed to fit in a few part-time jobs along the way too; Grant’s, Kennebec Greenhouse, and Flood’s Antiques. This enabled her to enjoy some of her passions, flowers and antiques. She kept an impeccable home and decorated with her collection of Byers’ Carolers, antiques, and beautiful flowers that were cut from Tom’s gorgeous gardens. Known as “The Flower Lady”, she gifted Women’s Fitness Studio, the Bath YMCA, and friends with bouquets of flowers to brighten their days.

Josie was named Woman of the Week in local newspapers and went on to be chosen as Mother of the Year at around age 31. She will always be lovingly remembered as a woman of boundless energy and a strong sense of duty who raised her four children in a home of love that always seemed to hold the aroma of freshly baked cookies and pies. Family gatherings always centered around her cooking, games, and laughter. “Mom” could cook/bake anything and she posessed a true servant’s heart, for she faithfully cared for family and friends through delicious cooking/baking “from scratch” at church dinners, charitable fundraisers, and holiday gatherings.

She loved to go out to eat, shopping, craft fairs, going to band concerts, the Maine State Music Theatre, the Thursday Coaster meals at the Senior Citizens after her hair appointments done by dear friends Lisa & Deidra, listening to Christmas carols and riding around town taking in all of the beautiful holiday lights; Christmas was her favorite holiday; a time of giving and celebrating her newborn faith…the heart of the Underwood family.

Josie had many passions in her life but none stronger than her love of family. Josie and Tom enjoyed traveling throughout the country and winters in Florida were cut short to follow their grandchildren’s athletic events. They simply did everything together; they truly were life partners. She missed her Tom and was happy in knowing she was going to be in God’s kingdom and with her husband.

Josie is survived by her daughter and husband, Vicki and Michael Trafton; sons and wives: Thomas, Jr. and Debbie Underwood of Campton, NH, Charles and Theresa Underwood of Benton, Todd and Pamela Underwood of West Bath.

Josie dearly loved and is survived by 13 grandchildren: Thomas III and wife Amanda, Kyle, and Tara and husband Matt Custer; Justin, Isaiah, Lindsey and husband Derek McIntosh, Ashley and husband Chris Markwood; Blaine and Luke Trafton; Joshua and wife Amber, Mollie, Corey and wife Amanda, Jay. She was also blessed and loved her 9 great-grandchildren: Ava, Thomas IV, London, Malia, Shia, Miya, Maisie, Emelia, Wyatt, plus 1 any day.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a “Celebration of Life” at Josie’s beloved home, 16 Harward St., Bath on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with the Pastor Bill Cripe officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Josephine Memorial Fund (scholarship/awards) at Bath Savings, 105 Front St. Bath, Me. 04530

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