James Moss

Jim Moss died on Oct.12th, 2022 in San Diego California. He was 91 years old.
Jim was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on groundhogs day in 1931 in a rural area of the Missouri Ozarks where his family owned and operated a mercantile business. After graduating high school in Poplar Bluff he attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, on an academic scholarship for two years. He transferred to the University of Iowa in 1950 for one semester, then joined the Navy during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Navy during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Navy in 1954, he enrolled at the University of Missouri where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Public Administration and a Master's degree in U.S. History and American Literature.
He taught history and economics at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, for three years before becoming Associate Editor of the Missouri Review published by the State Historical Review published by the State Historical Society of Missouri. In 1968 he was appointed Executive Director of the Harris County Conservation and Heritage Society in Houston, Texas.
In 1957, Jim married Marcia Mueller, they had two children Amanda Ann Moss Majerowski and James Mueller Moss.
In 1969, Jim moved to San Diego to be the Executive Director of the San Diego Historical Society. While on the west coast he was also the Director of the Historical Society in Honolulu Hawaii and San Francisco California.
In 1977, Jim and Tonnie Ferm were married in San Diego where they began 42 years of wedded happiness until Tonnie's death in 2019.
In 1982, Jim became a part of Mayor Pete Wilson's administration, serving as liaison to the City Council and commission consultant. In 1983, Mayor Wilson named Jim as the liaison to the British Consulate and to the U.S. State Department in preparation for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to San Diego. Jim often said it was the most intriguing assignment he ever had.
Tonnie and Jim moved to Arizona in 1983 where he was named Director of the State of Arizona's Historical Museum system and where they remained until Jim's retirement in 1988. They lived in retirement in Poplar Bluff, Missouri for 12 years until they returned to San Diego in 2000 to be near Tonnie's family and enjoy the pleasures of Southern California again.
Jim is survived by his sister Margory Moss Tyler and husband William, Amanda Ann Majerowski and husband David and son Eric Andrew Majerowski, Rebecca Dickinson Welch and husband Gary, Kris Dickinson and his wife Christine with his two grandchildren, Alek and Connor Dickinson.
Following private services, internment will be at the Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego. Donations in memory of Jim may be made to the USO.