Josephine Pacheco Koester, a lifelong resident of King City, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025 at the age of 99. Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, 12 siblings, husband William, son Timothy and granddaughter Tiffany Anthony.
She is survived by daughter Tamie of King City, daughter Kimberly Payseno (Mike) of Clovis, CA, son Kelly Koester (Kathy) of Hamilton, MT, and daughter-in-law Barbara Koester (Tim) of Lockwood, six grandchildren (Miles, Lindsay, Tim Jr., Josh, Jeff and Nick) and thirteen great-grandchildren (Remi, Lane, Logan, Ada, Alyssa, Kiera, Hunter, Tray, Jewel, Cort, Kylee, Chance and Buster). Her family was her life and soul.
“Mama Jo” loved all that life had to offer. She loved gardening, her chickens, canning, baking, cooking for crowds, dancing, traveling, fishing, decorating her home for every holiday or occasion, sewing flannel pj’s for nieces/nephews and sewing many Halloween costumes for her four kids.
Her early years found her working for Dr. Bridges in his dental office and in the San Lorenzo school cafeteria making real home-made yeast rolls and delicious treats. Later she worked for Keefer’s, Doctors Nash/Hyde, Alice Gaunt and Barbara Pekema to name a few. She retired at age 82 after working with Dr. Harrison for many years.
Jo loved her camping trips with the Tumbleweeds camping group and travelling the United States and abroad. She had so many stories to tell and a Christmas ornament from each of her travel destinations. Family would often ask to hear the story behind a specific ornament at Christmas while enjoying the traditional Portuguese meal of “vina dosh” and homemade sweet bread.
Jo was a troop leader for both Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church Choir, a Catholic Daughter and Eucharistic Minister. She was also a Pink Lady at Mee Memorial Hospital, an active participant at Silver Kings and Queens, volunteered at the Salinas Valley Fair, participated in the gathering of history regarding King City and was on the King City Code Violation Committee. She enjoyed visiting local schools as a park ranger assisting Smokey the Bear, and as a wicked witch at Halloween. She had a full and rewarding long life and will be terribly missed by the family and friends that loved her so.
Services will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at St. John’s Catholic Church: Viewing at 9am, Rosary at 10am with Mass immediately following. She will be buried next to her husband William (Bill) in King City Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the service at the Nate Holaday Expo Building located at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Nacitone Museum at PO Box 278, Lockwood, CA 93426, Monterey County Ag and Rural Life Museum checks to MCARLM at PO Box 644, King City, CA 93930, or King City in Bloom Historic Preservation at PO Box 1776, King City, CA 93930.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
