Marnie Joseph

The Mass of Christian Burial for Marnie Sedberry Joseph will be held Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler with Monsignor Milam J. Joseph officiating. Marnie Sedberry Joseph, age 85, died on October 15, 2018 at her home surrounded by family. She was the adopted daughter of Marnie Merritt Byars and James Bernard Sedberry of Franklin, TN. A graduate of St. Bernard Academy in Nashville, TN, she attended Vanderbilt University, Our Lady of Cincinnati, Peabody College and Sienna College. As she told her children, she thoroughly enjoyed each one! Marnie met her future husband, Elias F. Joseph, in October 1953 at a conference of young adult Catholics and chased him all over Tennessee until he finally said he would marry her! They married in 1956, living in Oak Ridge, TN, where Elias worked for the Atomic Energy Commission until their move to Tyler, TX in 1958. She raised five children, leading by example and living a faith-driven life of service to others. Marnie was devoutly Catholic, deeply faithful and driven by her strong sense of moral obligation to help those in need by whatever means she could. Marnie believed that education and knowledge was key to being successful in life and it was this belief that led her to a career selling World Book Encyclopedias. Along with Elias and daughter, Byars, they founded Josephs Catering. Thanks to their talent and hard work, they built a successful business that properly served and deliciously fed U.S. Presidents, politicians, friends and family for over 26 years. Marnie was a committed and active member of the Altar Society, St. Gregory’s and T. K. Gorman’s PTOs, the Cedars of Lebanon, the Tyler Symphony Association, Smith County Association for Retarded Children, Smith County Democrats, the Tyler Day Nursery, the March of Dimes and the Girl Scouts. She was the proud recipient of the New Days Ministries’ Woman of Distinction Award recognizing her heart, talent, energy and expertise. Marnie is survived by her children and their families, Bernadine and Bob Daniell, Byars and David McCall, Henriette and Greg Doke, and Christopher Joseph; grandchildren, Emily and Austin Brooks, Will Daniell and Cari Euart, Bliss Joseph; and great-granddaughter, Merritt Brooks. She is also survived by her sister, Brenda Ray; sister-in-law, Mary Sedberry and cousin, Betty Byars Summers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elias F. Joseph; son, Elias Francis Joseph, Jr.; and brothers, Jimmy Sedberry and Clifford Sedberry. Visitation is scheduled on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. followed by the Rosary at the Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler. Memorial gifts may be made to the Elias F. Joseph Family Scholarship Fund at The Tyler Catholic School Foundation, P.O. Box 131175, Tyler, TX 75713 or to the Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75701. “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your master.” Matt. 25:23

Marnie Joseph

August 27, 1933 - October 15, 2018