Obituary of Will Moody

Willie Darling Moody, 84, died in Beaumont, Texas on January 2, 2019. Will was born on December 24, 1934 in Opp, Alabama, to John and Alice Adelia Moody. He grew up on his family’s farm and enlisted in the Air Force in 1955 where he achieved the rank of staff sergeant. He married Wanda Marie Sanders Moody, his wife of 61 years, on May 25, 1957, and in 1964, he left the Air Force to pursue a degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  While working on his undergraduate degree in Communications, Will worked at Barras Electric as an electrician, and after graduation, he was employed by Cities Service Oil Company. He returned to McNeese and completed a Master’s Degree in Communications, transitioning to a new position, Supervisor of Employee Development. After 19 years at Cities, he worked for Dale Carnegie as an instructor and Sales Representative. Will and Wanda moved to Moss Bluff, Louisiana in 1971, where they lived for 40 years. Will was a member of First Baptist Church of Gillis where he was a deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Director and chaired the Scholarship Committee for young people entering the ministry, the Missions Committee for building Topsy Baptist Church, and the Church Building Committee for building the new church at FBC Gillis. Later he and Wanda joined First Baptist Church of Moss Bluff where he taught Sunday School, visited Angola State Penitentiary as an outreach to prisoners, distributed God’s Word through Gideons International and went on mission trips to Mexico and Suriname. For the last five years, Will lived in Silsbee, Texas near his two children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and he was a member of First Baptist Church, Silsbee. After achieving success in industry and in service, Will’s greatest work was done in caring for his wife, Wanda, who suffered from dementia. He faithfully cared for her, valued her, and treasured her at home until her death in January, 2018.

Will was preceded in death by his wife Wanda Marie Sanders Moody, son Richard Keith Moody, parents John and Alice Adelia Moody, brother K. P. Moody, sister Johnnie Mae Morgan, sister Laurette Hubble, son in law John Exum and great granddaughter Annie Ruth Rowell.

He is survived by his son and daughter in law Scott and Lori Moody, and daughter Jennifer Moody Exum of Silsbee, Texas, sister Avanell Lawford of Elba, Alabama, brother James Moody of Bulverde, Texas, and sister Frances McLean of Dothan. Also, he leaves a legacy through his grandchildren Wes and Heather Moody of Lumberton, Texas, Lauren and Chad Rowell of Leonard, Texas, Mary Moody of Washington, D. C., Alexander and Emily Exum of Silsbee, Texas, along with five great grandchildren.

Will’s family would especially like to thank Nurses Bob Strange, Jaime McDonald, Tara Polk, Shilo Dumos, and Shereda Fontenot for respecting and valuing Will’s life, treating him with tender care and kindness during his time in Neuro ICU at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Also, Scott and Jennifer are grateful for the focused efforts of Dr. Fernando Silva, Dr. Marco Silva, Dr. David Parkus, and Dr. Darioush Kavouspour in helping Will have his best set of circumstances for survival. Abrupt endings to life are harrowing, heavy to bear, and take away the peace and comfort we all take for granted, but Scott, Jennifer and the rest of Will’s family are not without hope. While they do not understand why this new, uneasy path without their father has happened, they stand firm believing that God loves Will and God loves them.

Viewing for Will Moody will be on Saturday, January 5th from 9am to 11am at First Baptist Church in Silsbee, Texas. The service celebrating his life will follow at 11am.