Josephine Hyder, 82, passed away peacefully at home early Thursday morning, October 3, 2024. A visitation will be 5:00-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Strode Funeral Home. A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the Lost Creek United Methodist Church. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation are overseeing the arrangements.

Jo lived many lifetimes in her 82 years. As a child, her family experienced financial hardship. Mom not-so-fondly recalled having to pick cotton to help support the family and having one pair of hand-me-down shoes for the winter.

Jo graduated from Mounds High School in Mounds, Oklahoma 1960. She married her high school sweetheart, Jim Hyder, and a few months later, they moved to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma State University. Jim and Jo settled in Payne County, where they raised their three daughters on their family farm. Jo was known for her hard work and became famous among neighboring farmers for her ability to handle anything. One memorable farm story involved rounding up some pigs that were out of their pen. The last stray hog refused to return to the pen, so Jo knocked it out with a 2x4. When that hog woke, it walked right in the gate and back into the pen.

After their farming days ended, Jim and Jo settled in Perkins. She became well-known around Perkins as "the lady with really great hair" who walked their neighborhood and played golf. Jo was an important part of the community, serving in her church and other organizations, and supporting all things Perkins-Tryon Public Schools. Following Jim's unexpected death in 2006, Jo found strength in spending time with her daughters and traveling the state to watch her grandchildren's activities.

In 2008, Jo married Bill Little and began the next chapter of her life. She and Bill enjoyed traveling in their RV, especially their time spent in Estes Park, Colorado with old and new friends. Jo was quite the fisherwoman and loved teasing Bill about their fishing excursions, often out-fishing him by a 10-1 margin.

Jo lived a beautiful life that was at times financially, emotionally, and physically challenging. She approached the difficult times with class and grace, just as she lived the good times, relying on her work ethic, grit, tenacity, and belief that people are good at heart. Throughout her life, she remained positive and always had a joyful smile for her loved ones. Jo was proud of her lineage and her legacy.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, sisters, three daughters and sons-in-laws, eight grandchildren and their spouses, and eleven great-grandchildren.

She was a revered Wife, Mom, Gran, and GG whose impact will be felt a lifetime.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Jo's caregiver team. Words cannot express how grateful we are for the care and compassion you showed Jo while she was recovering from her fall. Your kindness, thoughtfulness, and laughter brought comfort to all of us. Thank you for being there for us and for making a difference in Jo's life.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests donations be made in Jo's name to the Perkins Community Foundation, Jim Hyder Scholarship, P.O. Box 667, Perkins, Oklahoma 74059.