Michael L. Moody

Michael Moody Obituary

Michael L. Moody, 50, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2005 at the V.A. hospital with his family by his side. He was born in San Diego, CA, on March 5, 1955 and was the eldest of 9 children. He attended North Phoenix High before proudly serving his country as a U.S. Marine. He lived for many years in Virginia and Georgia, working as a security system and satellite dish installer. He returned to the Valley in 2001. He enjoyed computers and firearms, but especially enjoyed his numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack L. Moody, and leaves behind his mother, Ellen; brothers Daniel, Bill, Patrick, John & Jesse; and sisters Mary Benson, Jackie Large & Margaret Moody. He will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 10:00 A.M. Arrangements entrusted to Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.

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Published by The Arizona Republic on Nov. 22, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Moody

Sponsored by his family.

6 Entries

Courtenay W. Brown

November 16, 2020

I still love Mike and miss him. I think of him often and with a smile. He will always be in my heart. Thinking of you all, as well, and hope all the Moodys are doing well.

Mike at the family picnic Oct,2005

November 26, 2005

Courtenay Brown

November 25, 2005

Mike and I had our share of interesting experiences being in each other's lives for 19 years. I met Mike in 1986, and we married at "high noon" on May 2, 1989. The "high noon", was Mike's idea of a joke, like the O-K Corral (smile). I loved Mike, never stopped, never will stop.

Mike was my joy, my sorrow, my day and my night. Even when things were wrong between us, we were still the best of friends. He never gave up on me, nor did I give up on him.

He had the most awesome personality, quick sharp wit, intelligent, stormy, invigorating, exasperating, intense and vibrant always. Life with Mike was many things, but it was NEVER boring.

Even after our divorce, we maintained a deep and loving friendship. I will always miss him, his creativity, his eagerness to learn (let's see, soapmaking, explosives, bee keeping, making home-made pizza, welding, black powder rifle hunting, regualar deer hunting, carpentry just to name a few), his compassion for abandoned or homeless animals. At one point, we had 20 dogs and 10 cats all living in our tiny house. Like I said, it was NEVER boring.

Mike told me he would haunt me (smile)...but his "haunting" will always be a comfort.

I am a lucky woman to have shared part of this journey called life with Mike. He's gone on, scouting out new territory, waiting for us to catch up.

Dan Moody

November 22, 2005

Mike was my older brother. He and I did a lot of things together when we were young, especially fishing with our dad and grandfather ("gramps"). I remember the day he fell out of a tree he had climbed trying to retrieve a small glider airplane. He fell, was knocked unconscious and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. I remember dragging 15-20 xmas trees home from our neighborhood (discarded ones) the day after christmas and building a "xmas tree city" in our backyard. I remember when we went to the Doors concert in Phoenix for his 14th birthday. It was great! The State of Arizona banned Jim Morrison and the Doors from ever returning to the state after almost inciting a riot during the concert! Though he did not like sports, I remember he had a great arm and could really throw a baseball. I was always jealous of that, because I was a pitcher in little league and he could always throw harder, faster and more accurate than me... and he never practiced! I remember being at a carnival where they had the game booth where you threw baseballs at targets for prizes. He kept knocking them down and I kept missing! I also remember that he LOVED cinnamon rolls from Winchell's Donuts when he was in 5th, 6th and 7th grades. He liked playing guitar and would play Credence Clearwater Revival and Doors songs over and over and over until he learned to play them on guitar...by which time we also all knew them by heart!

In elementary school, he was an altar boy (server) at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, San Diego; in high school (Phoenix), he was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps(ROTC); and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps. We were all proud of these accomplishments. He was very bright and always good with mechanical and electrical things. He knew computers like no one else. Hobbies included playing guitar, computers and later, firearms.

Mike was fiercely independent and always did things his own way - until the very end. He thoroughly enjoyed his nieces and nephews, and has a soft spot for his pet dogs. He lived in the South (Virginia & Georgia) for 25 years, but moved back home (Phoenix) in 2001 after he became ill. We were grateful that he spent his last four years with his family. I'm sure it was God's plan to bring him back home. He will be sorely missed by his mom, five brothers and three sisters. Though gone, he will never be forgotten. He will always be here with us in spirit.

Jolene Wilson

November 22, 2005

The coworkers of Michael's sister, Margaret, from Qwest, want to express our sympathy and to let the entire Moody family know our prayers are with you.

Dean Hester

November 22, 2005

Mike was a past employee of mine at Taylor Rental in Richmond, Virginia. He was a true friend who would stop whatever he was doing and help. He taught me about computers before Bill Gates made them popular. He had a sense of humor that couldn't be matched. We will sorely miss him here on earth, but we have his memory.

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