Josephine Scott Falcon passed away Saturday, December 6, at age 92 surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born to Tom and Margarita (Nieto) Scott in February 1933. The Scott family was later blessed with a second child – Elidia. With Elidia’s birth, Josephine gained not only a sibling but a best friend. Together they navigated their early years, playing with dolls on the porch of their house at the ranch, working on sewing projects with their mother, practicing their dance moves to country western music at their grandmother’s house and helping each other get their petticoats ready for the evening dresses they would wear to the many high school dances they attended.

After graduating from Fort Stockton High School and with the support and encouragement of her parents, Josephine enrolled in Sul Ross State University in 1952. From the age of seven, Josephine knew she wanted to be a teacher. Her determination to fulfill her dream helped her complete her bachelor’s degree in 1955 three years after enrolling. This determination carried her forward, helping her to complete her master’s degree in 1958.

Josephine’s teaching career began in August 1958 as an employee of the Fort Stockton Independent School District at the first schoolhouse in Fort Stockton. Her first-year assignment was to a Kindergarten classroom, but after it’s completion, Josephine asked to be assigned to a first-grade class as teaching reading was not a standard part of the Kindergarten curriculum. Her request was approved and Josephine went on to teach first grade at Apache Elementary for 37 years.

Teaching children to read was of great importance to Josephine because she believed that a child could accomplish anything with “great reading skills and some math”. Josephine relished seeing joy on the face of a child as they proudly announced that they had finished a book “all by themselves”. Over the span of her lifetime, it gave her much satisfaction when a former student would tell her of their personal and professional accomplishments.

During her teaching career, she was also initiated into the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, held memberships in the Texas State Teachers Association, Classroom Teachers Association, Parent Teacher Association, received the Very Special Person award from her faculty peers, and received certification to teach gifted and talented classes. Josephine retired from teaching in May 1992.

While on Christmas break in 1955, Josephine accepted a date to a Christmas dance with Ray Falcon – a date that would prove to be the first of many more. On December 22, 1956, they exchanged marriage vows and began life together. The years that followed for Josephine and Ray were spent together at Sunday mass, family gatherings, as members and hosts of the 74’ Club’s annual Black and White Ball, traveling to hair shows for Ray’s business, singing in the St Joseph’s choir, attending Chamber of Commerce banquets, driving their daughter around to deliver Girl Scout cookies, attending social events too numerous to count, and most importantly – attending anything that their grandson was involved in.

Although many in Fort Stockton were used to seeing the couple together, Josephine also had her individual pursuits. Mrs. Falcon was an active member of the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce for 25 years. Her roles in the organization included Vice President from 1997 to 2007 and President from 2007 to 2014. She enjoyed visiting with returning vendors and meeting new ones at the annual Arts and Crafts fair, knowing that their participation benefited the organization’s educational scholarship program. Josephine was selected and honored as the 2014 Fort Stockton Female Citizen of the Year. She served as a member of the Head Start Policy Council, was awarded the Head Start Volunteer Award in 1997 and held a membership in the American GI Forum Women’s Auxiliary for numerous years.

When asked what she gave credit to for her personal and professional blessings, Josephine always indicated that it was her faith in God. As a child she attended kindergarten classes taught by nuns at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The time spent with the nuns had a significant impact on her life. It was impressed upon her that she should strive to be a person of service to her fellow man and lead a productive life. With this influence, Josephine went on to help with church sponsored breakfasts and luncheons for graduating seniors, served as a Eucharistic minister, participated in the church choir, served on the Board of Catholic Charities and was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Parish Finance Council. She also received the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Certificate of Appreciation for Distinguished Service in 1979.

Though Josephine may not have been a member of as many organizations as her husband Ray, family and friends can confirm that she was a great volunteer: from helping her daughter on projects to benefit local victims of domestic violence, typing up notes for her husband’s meetings for an organization’s scholarship program, or simply delivering a sweet treat to an old friend.

Josephine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister. She is survived by her daughter Rebecca Ureta and husband Miguel, grandson Andrew Ureta and wife Daisy, nephews: Scott Carrasco and Richard Carrasco, and niece Mary Margaret Reese.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 10, from noon to 6 p.m. at Eternity Funeral Home with Rosary to follow beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 11, 10 a.m. at St. Josephs Catholic Church with interment to follow at the Fort Stockton Catholic cemetery.