Obituary for Robert Howard Moss
Robert Howard Moss, 82, of Leesville, Louisiana, peacefully passed away on May 12, 2017 at St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. A wake for Mr. Moss will be held Sunday, May 14th at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Leesville, Louisiana from 6 – 9 PM, with a rosary beginning at 6 PM. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by FatherKenneth Michiels on Monday, May 15th at 11:00 AM. Following the Mass, burial will be at Cooper Church Cemetery in Pickering, Louisiana, under the direction of Jeane Funeral Services.
Robert was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on October 13, 1934. A devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and friend, he is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Frances Kaye Harding Moss, daughters and their spouses, Vicky Dowden (Dan), Cindy Dowden (Steve), Sherry Miller (Benny, Jr.), Kelli Strickland (Kenny), sons Steven Moss (Kendra) and Mark Moss (Fusita), seventeen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Moss was preceded in death by his mother Ludie Zell Cooper Moss and stepfather Robert Moss; his sister, Mary Lou Haymon; his brothers Michael Cooper Moss and Ned Berlin; and an infant son, Robert Steven Moss.
Robert was honored to be part of the Boy Scouts of America organization, and he earned Eagle Scout in 1951 with Post 72. He was a 1955 Leesville High School graduate and served as president of his class, and he lettered in three high school sports. While attending Louisiana College in Pineville, he was a four-year member of the LC Golf Team. After graduation in 1959, he coached football, basketball, and track and taught science at Rosteet Junior High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. For many years, Robert was a football and basketball referee, and he served as Assignment Secretary for the DeRidder Basketball Officials Association.
Diagnosed with polio at the age of six, Robert spent much of his youth in Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport. Perhaps more than anything else, growing up with polio influenced his decision to work at the Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children in the summer of 1965. Working with special needs children that one summer changed his life, and the following year, he was hired as the Executive Director of the camp where he served for over forty years. During that time, Mr. Moss dedicated his life toward building a summer camp program for physically and mentally challenged children, which included the training and supervision of young men and women who served as staff each summer. At the 50th anniversary of the Lions Camp, Mr. Moss said, “At Lions Camp, every child can do anything and because they can, they create their own smile. Those beautiful smiles on the faces of campers and staff – even through shining tears at the close of their camping session – made all forty-one years forever priceless. When I hear the successes of those who have passed through the Lions Camp gates, I know the legacy continues. That realization keeps the love of Lions Camp burning in my heart.”
Robert’s devotion to the camp’s purpose motivated him to extend its services to include programs for autistic and diabetic youth as well as children challenged by muscular dystrophy and pulmonary disorders. Additionally, Mr. Moss assisted in the foundation and training of C. A. M. P., a camp for terminally ill children held in Kerrville, Texas, and he was instrumental in implementing a program for disabled youth in Australia.
As Executive Director, he valued promoting the camp to Louisiana Lions, who were diligently working to raise funds for its operation. He considered their contributions of time and energy essential to the camp’s success. Lion Moss was a Lifetime Member of the Leesville Lions Club, and he sincerely appreciated their support and giving spirit. He was also a Lifetime Member of the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation and the Lions Camp Alumni Association. In 1993, Robert received the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Service. Blue Cross of Louisiana honored Mr. Moss in 2002 by presenting him with the annual Angel Award for Outstanding Service to the Children of Louisiana.
Mr. Moss was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church where he served as a lector and CCD teacher. Some of his last words were John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Pallbearers are Marc Dowden, Adam Dowden, Chad Dowden, Douglas Dowden, James Strickland, Jared Strickland, Matthew Moss, and Benny Miller, III. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Dan Dowden, Steve Dowden, Kenny Strickland, and Benny Miller, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Mr. Moss’s beloved Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children, 292 L. Beauford Drive, Anacoco, Louisiana, 71403, are greatly appreciated.
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Robert was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on October 13, 1934. A devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and friend, he is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Frances Kaye Harding Moss, daughters and their spouses, Vicky Dowden (Dan), Cindy Dowden (Steve), Sherry Miller (Benny, Jr.), Kelli Strickland (Kenny), sons Steven Moss (Kendra) and Mark Moss (Fusita), seventeen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Moss was preceded in death by his mother Ludie Zell Cooper Moss and stepfather Robert Moss; his sister, Mary Lou Haymon; his brothers Michael Cooper Moss and Ned Berlin; and an infant son, Robert Steven Moss.
Robert was honored to be part of the Boy Scouts of America organization, and he earned Eagle Scout in 1951 with Post 72. He was a 1955 Leesville High School graduate and served as president of his class, and he lettered in three high school sports. While attending Louisiana College in Pineville, he was a four-year member of the LC Golf Team. After graduation in 1959, he coached football, basketball, and track and taught science at Rosteet Junior High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. For many years, Robert was a football and basketball referee, and he served as Assignment Secretary for the DeRidder Basketball Officials Association.
Diagnosed with polio at the age of six, Robert spent much of his youth in Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport. Perhaps more than anything else, growing up with polio influenced his decision to work at the Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children in the summer of 1965. Working with special needs children that one summer changed his life, and the following year, he was hired as the Executive Director of the camp where he served for over forty years. During that time, Mr. Moss dedicated his life toward building a summer camp program for physically and mentally challenged children, which included the training and supervision of young men and women who served as staff each summer. At the 50th anniversary of the Lions Camp, Mr. Moss said, “At Lions Camp, every child can do anything and because they can, they create their own smile. Those beautiful smiles on the faces of campers and staff – even through shining tears at the close of their camping session – made all forty-one years forever priceless. When I hear the successes of those who have passed through the Lions Camp gates, I know the legacy continues. That realization keeps the love of Lions Camp burning in my heart.”
Robert’s devotion to the camp’s purpose motivated him to extend its services to include programs for autistic and diabetic youth as well as children challenged by muscular dystrophy and pulmonary disorders. Additionally, Mr. Moss assisted in the foundation and training of C. A. M. P., a camp for terminally ill children held in Kerrville, Texas, and he was instrumental in implementing a program for disabled youth in Australia.
As Executive Director, he valued promoting the camp to Louisiana Lions, who were diligently working to raise funds for its operation. He considered their contributions of time and energy essential to the camp’s success. Lion Moss was a Lifetime Member of the Leesville Lions Club, and he sincerely appreciated their support and giving spirit. He was also a Lifetime Member of the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation and the Lions Camp Alumni Association. In 1993, Robert received the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Service. Blue Cross of Louisiana honored Mr. Moss in 2002 by presenting him with the annual Angel Award for Outstanding Service to the Children of Louisiana.
Mr. Moss was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church where he served as a lector and CCD teacher. Some of his last words were John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Pallbearers are Marc Dowden, Adam Dowden, Chad Dowden, Douglas Dowden, James Strickland, Jared Strickland, Matthew Moss, and Benny Miller, III. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Dan Dowden, Steve Dowden, Kenny Strickland, and Benny Miller, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Mr. Moss’s beloved Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children, 292 L. Beauford Drive, Anacoco, Louisiana, 71403, are greatly appreciated.
To plant a tree in memory of Robert Howard Moss, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
14
May
5:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
ST. Michaels the Arch Angel Catholic Church
604 South 5th ST.
Leesville, LA 71446
Visitation
Sunday
14
May
6:00 PM
ST. Michaels the Arch Angel Catholic Church
604 South 5th ST.
Leesville, LA 71446
Funeral Service
Monday
15
May
11:00 AM
ST. Michaels the Arch Angel Catholic Church
604 South 5th ST.
Leesville, LA 71446
Memorial Contribution
Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children
In lieu of flowers, donations to Mr. Moss’s beloved Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children, 292 L. Beauford Drive, Anacoco, Louisiana, 71403, are greatly appreciated.
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