Dr. George Joseph Moody

Dr. George Joseph Moody Longtime resident of Green Valley, passed away recently at the age of 94 in Tucson, AZ. The son of William and Helen Parker Moody, Joe served with the 33rd Infantry Division for 44 months in WWII in the Pacific Theater. Then, after graduating from the U. of Illinois and State U. of Iowa, he moved with his wife and son to Los Alamos, N.M., where he taught art to children for 16 years in the public schools. He then went on to earn his Doctorate of Ed. In Art at Ball State University in Indiana and became a Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Moody was a respected painter of southwestern landscapes, exhibiting in various galleries. After he retired he and his wife moved to Albuquerque, NM, where he continued to paint and teach privately. He became a member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society. In his final years, Joe and his wife moved to Green Valley, AZ, to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. He remained intellectually curious and creatively active in his retirement, well into his nineties. He continued painting, sketching, playing the piano, writing poetry, and studying various languages. Joe was long active with the Unitarian Church, serving in various capacities in different cities where he lived. In Green Valley, he worked with the Democratic Party, often volunteering to do the task of making phone calls. He participated in various discussion groups over the years, and was always interested in learning about people he met. Joe Moody is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Paul and Jo; two grandsons, George and Junio and three great-grandchildren who he especially delighted in. A Celebration of his Life will be held at the Unitarian-universalist Congregation in Amado, AZ on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. A pre-service gathering will be at 9:30 a.m., where friends can view some of Joe's art and poetry. The Memorial will begin at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored to have contributions made to any children's charity, or to the Unitarian-universalist service committee.