Elizabeth M. Moody

1918 - 2023

Elizabeth M. Moody

May 21, 1918 - July 25, 2023

Elizabeth M. Moody at 105 years, now rests in the arms of Angels. Her life was nothing short of amazing. She was a recipient of Heart of Yuma Award and loved to participate in all aspects of her beloved community. Born in Marshall, Missouri, to John H. and Ruth J. Marschall. Her family relocated to Miami, Arizona where her father was a High School Science Teacher for many years. She graduated from Miami High School at the age of 16. She attended the American University in Washington D.C. on a scholarship for two years earning a Liberal Arts Degree. She then stayed out of college for a year to earn money to attend the University of Arizona graduating cum laude with a B.S. in Botany and a minor in Entomology in 1940.

While growing up, the Marschall family went camping throughout Arizona, and Elizabeth learned about and respected Arizona's ancient Native American tribes, and indigenous plants in all regions of Arizona. She loved camping, and made sure she continued the tradition of camping with her own children exposing them to the wonders of nature. It was an outdoor classroom with nature walks.

While at the U of A, she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She met and married U of A classmate Robert J. Moody, who was hired as the Agricultural Agent for Pima County, in 1940. She helped by writing Victory Garden pamphlets during the war. Bob was reassigned to Yuma County and they moved to Yuma in 1944.

Elizabeth was very active with 4-H Clubs, First Presbyterian Church, P.E.O. CJ chapter, Alpha Delta Kappa, Yuma Garden Clubs, MGM Garden Society, Arizona Native Plant Society, and the Arizona Historical Society to name a few. She was an expert in Arizona desert plants and would often give talks and presentations to groups, not only in Yuma, but also statewide. She also gave talks and demonstrations on varieties of roses that would survive in the Yuma climate. She is responsible for the rose garden at Smucker Park, the Alma Schott Rose Garden, and the Sanguinetti Museums rose garden.

Bob and Elizabeth bought a farm In the Yuma Valley in 1949. Elizabeth loved being a farm wife working beside her husband Bob, for 15 years, hauling barley, pitching silage, driving tractor, feeding cattle, writing paychecks for farm workers, straining milk to make butter and cottage cheese, monitoring cotton pests, all while raising 5 children. In 1962 they had to sell their farm due to rough economic times. They moved to the outskirts of Yuma on the East Main Canal just below KOFA High in 1964 where they created an oasis

Elizabeth was a 4H leader for 20 plus years for the Somerton Jr. Farmers and Homemakers and the High Award Clubs, helping our community youth prepare for the future. In 1964, she became a substitute teacher for Crane and Somerton schools. She attended Summer Schools at Northern Arizona University obtaining a Masters Degree in Biology Education in 1971, and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.

Elizabeth was a natural educator and loved teaching. In 1966 she began a new career at Fourth Avenue Jr. High teaching Eighth Grade Science. She loved her students and always challenged them with new and wonderful concepts and labs. Each student to her was important. In 1980, she retired after teaching for 15 years. Former students still remember the unique science experiences they learned in her classroom. This past year she was inducted into the Yuma County Education Foundation Hall of Fame.

Elizabeth leaves behind a legacy through her 5 children, John R. Moody(Sharon), Ruth Ann Maguire (Donald), James H. Moody, Charles D. Moody(Diane) and William J. Moody(Stefanie); 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents, John and Ruth Marschall; siblings, Robert Marschall, Margaret Hughes, and Donald Marschall, and her daughter in law Sharon Moody.

A Celebration of Life will be held this Fall at a date yet to be determined.

Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun