Josephine Ann Marie Copsey

Josephine Ann Marie Copsey, 93, of Mechanicsville, MD, passed away on March 24, 2016. Josephine was born January 8th, 1923 on Friendship School Road in Mechanicsville, MD. She was the daughter of the late Alice P. (Russell) Quade and Richard (Dickie) C. Quade, Sr. Josephine was the loving wife of 76 years to Leonard E. Copsey, Sr. Josephine is survived by her husband Leonard whom she married on Friday December 13th, 1939 at St. Joseph’s Church in Morganza, MD. She is also survived by her children Hilda (Tillie) Wood (Marvin), Pearl Buckler (Ronald, Sr.), Leonard (Lonnie) Copsey, Jr. (Elaine), Violet (Sissie) Buckler (David Sr.), Frances (PeeWee) Gray (Ralph Sr.), Emma (Punkin) Bowles (Jerry) all of Mechanicsville, MD. Josephine has 16 grandchildren, 28 Great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Josephine is preceded in death by her daughter Margaret (Peggy) Alvey. Josephine was the last of her generation , she is preceded in death by her siblings; Henry Quade, George Quade, Russell Quade, Elizabeth (Bessie) Bowles, Leonard (Bonny) Quade, Richard Quade, William (Fox) Quade, and Frank Quade. Josephine was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, MD and graduated from Margaret Brent High School. Afterward, Josephine worked for the C & P Telephone Company in Mechanicsville a long side the late Mrs. Marie Simpson. In 1946 with her husband Leonard they built the first crab house in St. Mary’s County the Drift Inn. Josephine worked the Drift Inn all her life. Josephine loved her restaurant and her passion for cooking. Socializing with the many customers that passed thru the Drift Inn over the years was always a joy for Josephine. In 1955, with husband Leonard they built the Patuxent River Oyster Company. Josephine was the Queen of Crabs & Oysters handling her businesses, her husband and her children with dedication, hard work, and love. When not working Josephine loved her flowers if she wasn’t working at her restaurant you could find Josephine in her yard planting flowers, raising flowers, and feeding the birds. Josephine was an avid reader. Josephine with her husband Leonard spent there off time in Port Charlotte, Florida. With Josephine’s passion for the restaurant business, she leaves a legacy behind that she instilled in all her children as her daughter Punkin now runs the Drift Inn her daughter Sissie at Sandgates Inn, her son Lonnie at Capt. Leonard’s and her daughter Peewee at Leonard Copsey’s Seafood Carryout. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 28, 2016 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Morganza, MD with Father Keith Woods officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Mechanicsville, MD. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren: Richie Copsey, Ralph Gray, Jr., Ray Alvey, Eddie Alvey, Ronnie Buckler, Troy Buckler, David Buckler, Jr. and Margaret Buckler-Ford, Miss P.J., and Jerry Bowles. .