Shawnee resident Joe C. Bussey, 74, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, July 9, 2009. He was surrounded by his family.
He was born Dec. 30, 1934 in Sulligent, Ala. to Clyde and Ruth (Ray) Bussey . His family moved to Shawnee when he was young. He lived in Stillwater, Cushing and Shawnee, before raising his family in Tecumseh. In 2006, he moved back to Shawnee. He attended grade schools at Jefferson and Irving and graduated from Shawnee High School in 1952. He later attended college at Baylor, OBU and graduated from OSU with a degree in Marketing.
While attending college, he married his sweetheart, Jo Dee Morris on April 30, 1954, in Shawnee. They had three children, Dee, Mike and Tracy. After graduating from college, he worked at his Dad's Supermarket for two years. From there, he moved to Durant to start his nursing home career. In 1963, he, his brother, Don, and mother, Ruth, built their first nursing home in Tecumseh. Then in 1965, they built Sunset Estates in Shawnee. The next one built was in Guin, Alabama in 1966. From there, he and his family, went on to purchase nursing homes in El Reno, Enid and Lexington. Joe took great pride in owning and operating great homes where residents lived with great dignity and respect. In 1978, he started in the cutting horse business with his horse placing in the futurity finals in 2002; with a Reserve Champion at the American Quarter Horse Association World Show in 2003. Even though he didn't ride, he loved the shows and being with people.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jo Dee of 50 years; and his parents, Clyde and Ruth Bussey.
Survivors include daughters and son-in-law, DeeAnne Mace of Shawnee and Tracy and Jeff Fraser of New York; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Sandi Bussey of Shawnee; four grandchildren of whom he was so proud, Eric Lloyd of Tecumseh, Micah Bussey of Shawnee and Clint and Calli Jo Johnson of New York; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Brenda Bussey of Guin, Ala.; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and so very many friends from the surrounding area and cutting horse enthusiasts.
Joe will be missed so very much by his family and friends, but we can all smile and know that he is with his Lord and his wife, Jo Dee, who he missed dearly.
Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at Liberty Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Matthews and Phil Thompson officiating. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. To share memories, or to sign the guest book on-line, go to www.cooperfuneral.com.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
