Mrs. Josephine (Jo) Earle Connell, 89, of Thornton passed away on December 29, 2008 in Groesbeck. Funeral services for Mrs. Connell will be 10:00 AM Thursday, January 1, 2009 at Central Baptist Church in Thornton with Rev. Tracy Sims officiating. Graveside services will be 1:00 PM Friday at Mt. Olivet in Fort Worth. Visitation with the family will be 6-8 PM Wednesday at Blair-Stubbs Chapel in Thornton. Mrs. Connell was born to Charles J. and Clara Boyer Earle in Fort Worth, Texas on December 15, 1919. She was one of seven children. She was born and grew up on a farm north of Ft. Worth where she lived until married and went to work as a Central Tower Operator during World War II. After the war, she and Tom went back and built their first home on part of the home farm. She taught one year at TWC and in FWISD before returning to the classroom in BISD, after the children were ready for school. She taught in BISD for 29 years, the last 17 years spent as counselor and assistant principal at Richland Jr. High. She and Tom were very active in the Birdville Baptist Church starting and working in the Young Married Couple Department for many years. They traveled extensively with their sons in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and later traveled abroad after the boys were grown. They moved to a ranch in 1985 in Limestone County that they bought in 1972. It was not an easy transition for Jo. They have been active members in Central Baptist Church since 1985 where she was active in W.M.U. She has been active in the Woman's Club of Groesbeck. She was a member of Shakespeare Study Club, Garden Club, Groesbeck Study Club and American Legion Auxiliary. She served as president and on the TSWC district board. She was very interested in flowers and the birds that visited their ranch. She is survived by sons, Robert Thomas Connell of Lovelady and Stephen Earl Connell and wife, Tami of Littleton, Colorado; grandchildren, Chris and Leah Connell, Billy, Emily, Gus and Rachel Connell; sister, Virginia Smith of Huntsville, Alabama; brother, Archie Earle of Arlington. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Thomas B. (Tom) Connell, two infant daughters and grandchildren, Allen, Laurel, Lee and Sara Connell. Nephews and grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Those serving will be Ronnie Earle, Larry Earle, Carey Earle, Chris Connell, Billy Connell, Andy Russell, Aaron Russell and Robert Gus Connell. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to TYRRA Connell Scholarship Fund, Julie Jordan, Treasurer, P. O. Box 20, Fairfield, Texas 75840 or the charity of your choice.