Josie L. Roe, 79, of Gilman died August 6, 2017, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A celebration of life has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 10th, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Cheryl Ridenour, Gilman United Methodist Church, officiating. Visitation with the family present will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. A private family burial will be held at Chester Cemetery, north of Grinnell. Memorial contributions may be directed to Windsor Manor Alzheimer's Garden. Josie was born on March 20, 1938, in Grinnell, the daughter of C.O. "Buss" and Ada Smith Eames. She grew up on the family farm in the Gilman and Montour areas and was educated in a country school near home, Gilman Public Schools and was a 1955 graduate of Newburg High School. She then attended Colorado State University in Greeley, Colorado. On December 29, 1955, she was united in marriage with Richard "Dick" Roe at the Gilman Community Church. The couple lived in Grinnell and later Lares, Puerto Rico before returning to Grinnell in 1958. While in Grinnell she was employed as a school secretary at Bailey Park Elementary School. The Roe family later moved to Gilman in 1971. Josie was an active member of the Gilman United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She was a big supporter of the SEMCO School District having served with her husband as president and vice president of the SEMCO Booster Club and volunteering for many school events. She was a Campfire and Girls Scout leader and a supporter of the Gilman Library. She loved children and for several years in Gilman she had a childcare center in her home. She also held a passion for making baby blankets which were donated to Grinnell Regional Medical Center OB Department. She loved quilting, china painting and gardening. She would often can her own produce. She was a fantastic cook and a great baker; she enjoyed having dinner prepared for her family. Once at the Iowa State Fair she was awarded a Blue Ribbon for her home-made biscuits. Survivors include her husband, Dick of Gilman; her children, David Roe of Gilman, Suzanne (Ken) Golder of Apple Valley, Minnesota and Laura (Chris) Purdy of Lakeville, Minnesota; her sister, Marjorie "Cookie" Cope of Gilman and six grandchildren, Eli, Abby and Meghan Golder and Quinn, Olivia and Sam Purdy. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tom Eames.