SCARBOROUGH – Josephine Rafferty Williams, 66, died unexpectedly Dec. 7, 2006. She was born April 24, 1940, in Old Town, a daughter to Leo Jerome Rafferty and Esther Bernice Buchanan Rafferty. Jo grew up as a county girl in Fort Fairfield and was proud of that. She graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1958 and still kept in touch with several high school friends. Jo was employed for several years at the Department of Human Services, Augusta, until she moved to Scarborough and worked for the Foundation of Blood Research as data analysis and project coordinator. She had assisted in research on congenital abnormalities in pregnant women and had co-written published medical articles. She was hired to do consultant work with Brown University. Jo’s passion in life was spending time with her grandchildren. They were her greatest traveling and shopping companions. She also enjoyed hobbies of quilting, traveling and entertaining. Throughout the years, Jo lovingly crafted hundreds of amazing quilts for friends, family and charitable causes. The warmth and comfort of one of her quilts reflected Jo’s loving and generous heart. She enjoyed traveling and her favorite companions were her grandchildren and girlfriends. She also took great pleasure in opening her arms and home to others. She hosted several gatherings including reunions and parties that were filled with laughter, dance and karaoke. She was predeceased by an infant son, Alan Michael. Jo is survived by her loving husband, Wadsworth H. Williams Jr. “Harry” of Scarborough. She leaves behind two sons, Stephen Locke Jr. and his wife, Jane, of South Portland and their children Brian, Elizabeth, Marianne and Sean and Jerry Locke and his wife, Catherine, of South Berwick and their children, Matthew, Ashleigh and Kathleen; a sister, Karen Rafferty and her husband, Norm Berube; three stepsons, two stepdaughters, 12 stepgrandchildren and one great-grandchild. Visiting hours will be 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited 10:15 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with a Mass of Christian burial after at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Old Town. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
JOSEPHINE RAFFERTY WILLIAMS
