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James Moody Obituary
Born in Rockford, Illinois to Mary Kathryn (Caulkins) and George Wayne Moody on May 21, 1937, Professor Moody was the sixth of seven children. He was proceeded in death by his parents and siblings but is survived by many nieces, nephews, and other family members, as well as good friends from around the world. His early years were spent in Rockford working the family farm, spending time with his extended family (especially his younger brother Skip), saving every single penny he earned to buy books, and reading everything he could.
Professor Moody would earn his BA from Greenville College in 1959 and his MA from Michigan State University in 1960. He left MSU in 1967 having reached ABD status with his Ph.D. Before coming to LSSU, a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London from 1962-64; an Assistant Professor of History and Sociology at Greenville College, IL, from 1965-71; Lecturer in History at Malone College from 1969-70; and Instructor of Anthropology at Southern Illinois University.
Professors Moody faithfully served Lake Superior State University for 46 years, from his initial appointment to the history faculty in 1971 through his retirement in 2010 and subsequent employment as an instructor from 2010 up to the time he passed away. Jim served as an important and influential mentor to students and junior faculty. During his time at LSSU, Jim earned Associate Professor in 1983, earned Full Professor and tenure in 1992, received LSSU's Distinguished Teacher Award in 1998, the Excellence in Academic Advising Award in 2005, and Professor Emeritus of History in 2017.
His knowledge, appreciation, and passion for higher education captured the hearts and minds of generations of students. He was an eclectic educator who taught anthropology, geography, history, humanities, mythology, and sociology. His diversity of publications and conference presentations from 1964 to 2017 reflect his varied educational tastes and proficiencies.
Active in the community, Professor Moody joined the Masons in 1979 and was voted Mason of the year in 2008. He was also a former Kiwanis member, City Commissioner, board member for the Chippewa County Historical Society, advisor to the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, many other campus clubs and organizations, as well as a long-time member of the Linnean Society of London. Professor Moody was instrumental to the development of and a board member for the Japan Center for Michigan Universities located in Hikone, Japan. He had many creative talents, including an impressive collection of Doodle art he loved to share, and enjoyed good food and good friends. He traveled extensively and some of his favorite memories include having tea with the Queen of England, an extended stay in a Tuscan villa, and his multiple visits to the far East. Regardless of where he was or what he was doing, the professor was always amongst friends.
In addition services will be on Friday, December 15, 2017 at the Central United Methodist Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, a Mason Service will begin at noon and Memorial Service at 1 p.m. with Reverend Larry Osweiler officiating. Summer burial will be planned in Paradise, Michigan with internment at the Paradise United Methodist Church next to his mother, Mary.
In lieu of flowers, Professor Moody wishes that you read a book and learn something new, enjoy a nice piece of pie with a cup of tea, be generous to all, eat as many good meals with friends and family as possible, and, if so inclined, buy book for a child, support the Ball Hospice House, or the American Cancer Society.
Charles Darwin Quote:
""A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.""
Arrangements are in the care of Hovie Funeral Home.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Moody
Sponsored by Hovie Funeral Home Inc.
Nancy M, Thurn
January 29, 2022
Professor Moody was a true scholar and a gentleman. He will be missed by all who knew him. A chance encounter with the Professor back in the 1980's changed my life forever! Through his pictorial correspondences and e - mails we became "Pen Pals". I will forever remain indebted to him for his sharing of his knowledge, his travels that he shared in his letters to me and his mutual love of the arts and history. I miss you Professor James Moody. I always will! My life was so much better because of our connection.
Thank you' Professor, for making my life brighter!
Nancy M, Thurn
Fr. Dale Coleman
November 23, 2021
Since I first wrote about Jim in 2017, I have published a book in which Jim figures prominently. It is Revelation: The Education of a Priest. I have 6 pages about attending LSSC, and I quote from the book Jim gave me Loren Eiseley's The Immense Journey, and particularly "The Bird and the Machine". It is one of the most illuminating stories I have ever come across about the wonders found in nature which point to a deeply Sacramental presence of this being God's Creation. It amazes me how I encountered Jim in my life, as well as all of those who have written about him.
John Ellsworth
November 22, 2021
GC 1966 or 67, taking English history class from the acknowledged genius of the campus. I think I earned a "C" and was happy to get it, overwhelmed as I was with the knowledge dump that was his class--I just couldn't keep up as a Southwestern transplant without a clue about anything who landed at GC only because it was meant to be. Today I am the author of 37 books, following 40 years as a lawyer, and practicing a Moody-ish type of curiosity about everything extraordinary thanks to the curiosity he had imparted. He was also great friends with Dr. Mac and that alone was enough to recommend him to me. Blessed times, all.
Gail M. BASS
October 20, 2018
I went to Greenville College when Dr. Moody taught there. I never had a class with him, but got to know him on a chance occasion. A friend and I were driving to a dracg racing track in Alton, IL one Sunday afternoon and saw some kind of old long black car along the road with a driver standing by the car. We stopped and I recognized the driver as being a professor I had seen at GC. He had a flat tire and didn't know for sure how to change. My friend and I changed his tire and he never forgot. Every time I saw the man he he thanked me. During a geology class outside one day, Dr.Moody walked by to tell us " Not to take anything for 'granite.' Quite a dry sense of humor. Gail M. Bass '70.
Very Rev'd Steven Peay
July 7, 2018
To learn of his passing this late was devastating! Prof Moody had been a mentor and a friend since I was in high school. We had last had touch in the Fall of 2017, when we both discussed what having cancer was like, and promised to continue the conversation -- alas, we did not. He was a man of incredible learning, curiosity, kindness, and was possessed of a deep and inquisitive faith. I am sure that I am not the only one who benefited from knowing him, and who will miss him. The world has lost one of its gentlemen, and one of its endearing -- and original -- characters; it will be poorer without him.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
Coletta Crews
February 6, 2018
I was privileged to "catch up" with Professor Moody last April (2017)--after some 40 years. Only today, I learned that he had passed away. He was a wonderfully gifted and creative instructor, who made history come alive. He will be sincerely missed.
Cammie Metheny
January 25, 2018
The first time I heard of James T. Moody was when I married his great nephew David. James would send our kids care packages from his travels, for birthdays and special occasions. It was always an exciting time when the packages would arrive wondering what would be in them. Jim introduced my kids to Harry Potter, London, England and help instill the value of reading, learning and discovering. We have a small library here in our house from all the books that he sent to the kids over the years. James traveled to Nebraska numerous times, he and David would take off to discover Nebraska.
I will forever hold my time spent with him as a treasure. All the conversations, traveling, and time spent chatting and listening to all the knowledge he held in his head. If only we could bottle it up and transfer all that knowledge to the next person to share, but then thats what he did his whole life, nurture knowledge. James took what he knew and gave it to people he came in contact with his whole life. He really was a gift to all of us and I for one will miss him deeply.
January 15, 2018
It was a chance meeting,on a early summer morning. Professor and his traveling companions, Dr. Richard Stearns and his lovely wife Ruth, came to visit our historic site, the Villa Louis, in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The site director called me from the historic kitchen, where I was interpreting historic recipes on the wood cookstove for the visitors. The director informed me that I was to take this tour through.Seeing this stately gentleman studying the exhibits waiting for the tour to begin was intimidating. Although initially I was filled with anxiety, by the time the tour had ended, it was as though we had know each other for a lifetime. Over the years I have been blessed with his visits as well as his pictorial letters of his travels,and insight on so many topics of discussions! I will miss him forever, but am a better person for knowing him. Good bye my dear friend, until we meet again! Thank you for the bright spot in my life. I am honored to call you my friend!
Nancy
January 11, 2018
I was fortunate to know Professor Moody when I was a student at Greenville College. The only course I took from him was during interterm cleverly titled Apes, Angels and Omega Men. I remember sitting in a chair in his office in Hogue Hall that was once owned by Robert Wadlow, the Alton Giant. What an enormous chair! Once while in his office I asked if he knew anything about poles that seemed to form a large antenna near Willard Airport south of Champaign. I had noticed it driving back to campus from a trip home. No, he did not know anything about it. So he immediately made telephone calls to find out about it. (This was in 1970 -- long before Google.) I was very impressed.
My other recollection was of a Saturday morning when several of my fellow students were talking at the rear of Hogue Hall. Professor Moody came down the steps from his office and engaged in our conversation. He asked if we all would like to see something interesting. We all piled into his pink Cadillac and he drove west into the countryside. Where could he be taking us? He stopped on a country road with woods on both sides and asked us to join him on a short walk into the woods. What?! In a few steps we were at a monument to the Cox Massacre. He proceeded to tell us the story of the Cox family. Pottawatomies killed the son in 1811 and captured his sister, Rebecca. When their father returned with help from other settlers at Hill's Fort Rebecca was tracked and rescued north of Springfield. What a wonderful experience learning local history! I have visited that monument from time to time and will always remember how I first learned about it.
Cary Holman, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Greenville University
Dale Coleman
December 20, 2017
Jim was such a dear gentleman. He took me under his wing when I first attended LSSC, and was always open to conversations on a great many subjects. He sympathized with my need to question the fundamentalism of my childhood church, and helped me how I could be a Christian and think critically as well, especially about Genesis and evolution. I got such a charge out of his beginning his classes with Winnie the Pooh! He gave me a number of books by Loren Eiseley, especially The Immense journey, which I treasure. We stayed friends for forty five years. I last saw him for dinner a couple years ago when I was in the Soo for a class reunion. He had rare gifts for friendship and encouragement. I will miss him a great deal. I am sad at the news of his death. He was a dear Christian and scholar.
December 14, 2017
James was a very pleasant person to be around, and very much up to date with the family history and interested in just about everything.
Cousins Colleen and Dennis Ringlein
Moody's Muggers hockey team circa 1976
Jim Pitcher
December 14, 2017
HOWARD SMITH
December 14, 2017
To Sir Moody;
Thank you for challenging us , thank you for believing in us and thank you for showing us that the world is our oyster, open it up.
In the mid 70s you came and watched our hockey team the Moody's Muggers, you had us over for dinner and you expected us to push ourselves for scholastic excellence.
You made a bunch of mugs believe. We are retired or retiring now, we have been beyond successful for the most part, that is largely due to us following a lead, that you exemplified.
Truly, lead and they shall follow. You were inspiring. From the Muggers and so MANY others .................. THANK YOU!
Ben Walker
December 14, 2017
He was very helpful during my early college days, both providing me with insight as well as helping me make a decision regarding attending JCMU. I never attended JCMU unfortunately, but thanks to him, I feel a world wiser and am thankful to have met such a generous man. Thank you, Dr. Moody!
Bill Malette
December 13, 2017
Great guy with an incredible appetite for anything that interested him. Many good memories of his interesting classes and keen mind.
Phyllis Bigelow
December 13, 2017
A fond farewell to a Renaissance man who made history come alive for me years ago at LSSC.
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