Mr. Thomas P. “Tom” Moss, 89, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life suddenly on Tuesday, November 2, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, from injuries sustained in an accident.
Tom entered this life on July 22, 1928, in Carthage, Missouri, son of the late Harris Morton and Johnnie (Teague) Moss. He was raised in Carthage and was a 1946, graduate of Carthage High School. After high school he enlisted and served his country faithfully in the United States Army. He served in the 1st Calvary Division during the Occupation of Japan, receiving a WWII Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal. After being honorably discharged, he enrolled in the St. Louis College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1948. While in St. Louis, he met Helen Louise Morrow, a beautiful young lady who was attending nursing school. Tom and Helen were united in marriage on March 27, 1949, in Lockwood, Missouri and to this union five children were born. Tom began employment with the Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage at the age of fourteen. After mortuary school he returned to Ulmer’s as a Missouri licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, remaining there until he and Helen purchased the Moss Funeral Home in Sarcoxie, Missouri, in 1960. In 1975, he sold the funeral home and purchased the Baxter Vault Company in Baxter Springs, Kansas, retiring in 2001. Tom enjoyed a good game of poker, fishing and tending to the needs of his garden. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, June Adams, Cleo Bowman and Vi Wampler; and a brother, Harry Moss, Jr.
Tom is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Helen Moss of the home; five children, Mary Moss of Cairo, Egypt, Margaret Wampler and husband, John, of Webb City, Missouri, George Moss and wife, Betty, of Galena, Kansas, Robert Moss of Wildwood, Missouri and Beth Cunningham and husband, Craig, of Kearney, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Moss are 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 5, 2017, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri, with Pastor Gregory Mech officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Sarcoxie Cemetery. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers are David Pyle, Christopher Moss, Michael Moss, Dan Schlemper, Brent Bullard and Craig Cunningham. The family will receive friends on Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri. In lieu of flowers memorials are being directed to the Immanuel Lutheran Church c/o the mortuary. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.thornhilldillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.
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