Robert Lynn "Bob" Moody

Robert Lynn (Bob) Moody, Sr., age 95, passed away on October 8, 2013 in Gulfport.
Mr. Moody was a lifelong resident with deep roots on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; he was born in Long Beach on March 19, 1918, and had lived in Gulfport since childhood. Two of his ancestors, Jean Baptiste Saucier (who married ""Pelican Girl"" Gabrielle Savary) and Jean Baptiste Graveline were among the original French-Canadians who arrived on the Gulf Coast with D'Iberville in 1700 and stayed to establish the French colonial settlements of Biloxi and Mobile.
Mr. Moody graduated from Gulfport High School (Class of 1938) and attended Mississippi State University before joining the family business, Moody's Court, on West Beach in Gulfport, which had been established by his father in 1931 as one of the first motels on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He was co-owner of Moody's Motel with his brother, Jack, before they sold the business in 1967. Not ready to retire, and being an avid fisherman with a boat was too good an opportunity to pass up, so for many years ""Captain Bob"" was a deep-sea fishing charter boat captain. He also served as Gulfport Harbor Master of the Small Craft Harbor from 1975 to 1979. In his later years, he and his wife, Doris, made and sold children's wooden toys and were fixtures at local craft fairs.
Although he was 87 years old at the time, Mr. Moody survived Katrina's storm surge in his home on Second Street in Gulfport, where he had lived since 1972, while standing on top of the dining room table in water up to his neck.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gulfport and past member of the Gulfport Yacht Club, Great Southern Country Club, Broadwater Country Club, Joppa Shrine Temple, Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, Mississippi Gulf Coast Craftsmen's Guild, past president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Motor Court Association, past president of the Gulfport Exchange Club and served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi State Exchange Club. His carnival organizations included Les Cavaliers and the Merry Maskers. He was King of the Merry Maskers in 1968.
Mr. Moody was preceded in death by his parents, Leo Benjamin Moody and Rosa Cassibry Moody, sister Bernice (Bunny) Orr, brother James (Jack) Moody, son-in-law Ronald Greeley, granddaughter Vanessa Greeley, and niece Lucille Moody.
He is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 74 years, Doris Hamilton Moody, daughter Cynthia (Cindy) Moody Greeley of Tempe, Arizona; son Robert L. (Bobby) Moody, Jr., and his wife Kitty Tillman Moody of Brandon, MS; three grandsons, Randall Greeley and his wife Lidiette of Mesa, AZ; Ryan Moody and his wife Natalie of Brandon, MS; and Shaun Moody and his wife Shannon of Brandon, MS; and six great-grandchildren, Thomas Greeley, Rebecca Greeley Tanner, Jennifer Greeley, Sydney Blake, Cameron Moody, and Rives. He is also survived by his sister, Evelyn (BeBe) Crandell of Dallas, GA, and several nieces and nephews, including Jim Moody of Gulfport.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Gulfport, 12190 Highway 605, Gulfport, MS 39503.
A visitation will be held on Friday, October 11, 2013 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport. A procession will leave the funeral home at 3:00 PM for a graveside service at 3:30 PM at Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport.
An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.