Thomas J. Moss
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Thomas J. Moss, 80, of Du Quoin, passed away at 12:14 a.m., Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at the Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.
Tom was a retired driller and preparation plant worker at the Captain Mine of Arch Coal. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin where he was a past deacon and a member of the Anglers Sunday School Class. He was a member of the UMWofA Local 7333. Tom was a lifelong cardinal fan and a avid follower of the Du Quoin Indians. He was a honorary member of the Du Quoin VFW and American Legion. Tom was the Jaycees Citizen of the Year in 1979. He had served as Du Quoin City Commissioner from 1965 to 1978 and was a Perry County Commissioner from 1978 to 1982.
He was born Jan. 20, 1929 at Du Quoin, Ill. the son of James and Alta (Dennis) Moss. Tom married Kathryn E. Rich on April 16, 1948 at Henderson, Ky. she passed away Dec. 4, 1974. He then married Betty Emling Sims on May 26, 1975 at Du Quoin, Ill. and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin, two daughters- Vicki (Dale) Spencer of Du Quoin and Jaci (Randy) Gregory of Tamaroa, son- Tommy Joe (Dixie) Moss of Okawville, two step daughters and seven step sons- Brenda Sims of Buffalo Grove, Ill., Steve (Teri) Sims of Du Quoin, Rusty Sims of Winston-Salem, N.C., Larry (Dianne) Sims of Du Quoin, Jeff (Noel) Sims of O'Fallon, Mo., Janet Sims of Du Quoin, Don Sims of Du Quoin, Chuck (Deanne) Sims of Penfield, Ill. and Tommy Dale Sims of O' Fallon, Mo., seven grandchildren- Jamie (David) Tyner of Du Quoin, Jeff (Shanna) Spencer of Du Quoin, Alison (Joe) Borowski of Alpharetta, Ga., Amber (Josh) Cranford of Du Quoin, Jill Moss of Peoria, Ill., Bradley Moss of Pinckneyville, Derek Moss of Okawville, 16 step grandchildren- Mandy (Eddie) Brunken of Cambria, Derek (Karly) Sims of Du Quoin, Laura Sims (Leon Lacklear) of Du Quoin, Kari (Jason) McNulty of St. Louis, Mo., Chad(Carly) Sims of Moore, Okla., Kenny (Jennifer) Sims of Carmel, Ind., Jonathan (Kim) Sims serving in Germany, Jenna, Jamie and Katelyn Sims of St. Louis, Mo., Bobby Sims of Herrin, Josh (Amy) Chitwood of Du Quoin, Matthew and Blake Sims of Penfield, Ill., Tyler Sims of Waltonville, Erica Sims of O'Fallon, Mo., 10 great grandchildren- Kyle (Sarah) Tyner of Carterville, Kaleb Tyner of Du Quoin, Alexandra, Jonah, Cameron and Blayke Spencer of Du Quoin, Connor and Liam Borowski of Alpharetta, Ga., Korbin and Noah Cranford of Du Quoin, 12 step great grandchildren- Reese and Spencer Brunken of Cambria, Ashton Smith and Chloe Sims of Du Quoin, Daniel and Lia McNulty of St. Louis, Mo., Brynleigh Locklear of Du Quoin, Brendan Sims of Germany, Ryan, Zack and Kaitlin Chitwood of Du Quoin, one great great granddaughter- Lucy Milam of Du Quoin, two brothers- Bob (Tinnie) Moss of Swansea, Charlie Moss of Du Quoin, Uncle- Chuck (Ruby) Dennis of Du Quoin, Aunt- Mandy (Wayne) Hamburger of Herrin, nephews- Steve (Sherry) Moss of Du Quoin, Mike (Kelli) Moss of Pinckneyville, niece- Laurie (Jim) Carver of Du Quoin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, sister- Betty Lou Moss, sister-in-law- Hilda Moss, niece- Teri Strode.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin with Rev. Joe Wagner officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church.
Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the First Baptist Church of Du Quoin Building Fund or the Marshall Browning Hospital Tree of Life and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.