Arthur Moss of Goreville

Arthur L. Moss, 94, of Goreville, died on Sunday, July 15, 2018. He was born in Goreville on March 26, 1924.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise (Mainer), and six children, Sonnie Alexander, Garry Moss, Arthur Moss, Keith Moss, John Moss and Mary Hampton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Hazel Adein; brothers Alfred Lee, Charles and Marshall; sister Adein; and grandson, Phillip.

Art and Mary Louise have 27 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren. Art resided with Mary Louise on Lake of Egypt, and formerly lived in Centralia.

Art was a World War II veteran, serving as a combat engineer and in a detachable unit as an anti-aircraft machine-gunner in Africa, Corsica, Sicily, Italy and France. After serving for nearly three years, he was injured, lost a kidney and returned home. Although doctors told him he would not live past his 30s, he led a long, loving life with his family.

After the war, he returned to the Illinois Central Railroad, where he worked as a cook, brakeman and conductor. He was a district sales manager for Washington National Insurance Company, owned Moss's Restaurant and car wash in Irvington, and then in the early '70s, owned Moss's Mobile Home Sales. He retired in 1986 and moved to Lake of Egypt.

Art will be remembered as a hard worker, devout family man, fisherman, a terrific storyteller and someone who loved life. His great love in life was Mary Louise.

Per Art's wishes, his body was donated to science and is now with Indiana University.

A celebration of Art's life will be held July 21 in Cobden.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you thank a veteran for his or her service to our country, and direct donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, in memory of Arthur L. Moss; or to dementia research at the Alzheimer's Foundation, also in memory of Arthur L. Moss.