Phyllis Moody, 93, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2016. She was born on July 18, 1923, in Carroll, IA, to Karl and Marvel Staab. Graduating as valedictorian from Lake View High School in 1941, she continued her education at Stephens College, Columbia, MO. She graduated in 1943 with an AA degree in airline science. Next she moved to Memphis, TN, and was employed by Chicago and Southern Air Lines as a ticket agent in the airport and later assigned to the Peabody Hotel. It was in Memphis that she met Lloyd Moody at the Officers’ Club. They married on November 17, 1947, at the home of Phyllis’ parents.
Lloyd and Phyllis moved back to her hometown in 1949 to work with Karl at Staab’s Store. In 1963 they purchased the store, becoming a Firestone Store, and later Moody’s Hardware Hank. Their retirement in 1991 ended 75 years of the family owned business that was started in 1916.
Phyllis was always a promoter of Lake View. Even though several of her later years were spent in the Des Moines area, she always considered Lake View home. She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, a former Sunday school teacher, belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary (1949), proud chairman of the annual poppy sales for many years, a leader in refurbishing the stone piers during her terms (1994-2003) on the Lake View Historic Commission, Women’s Club, and avid bridge player (PlaMor, Lake View Bridge, Contract Bridge, Duplicate Bridge, Lake View Couples Club), the HS group, Spring Lake Country Club, and a worker for the summer and winter carnivals.
Spending time with her family was the ultimate. Whether it was “party on the porch”, sharing a cup of coffee, making memories on vacations, annual get-togethers, a birthday or holiday celebration, family meant everything to Phyllis.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Lowell) Carlson of Urbandale, IA; son, Douglas Moody, of Carroll, IA; two grandchildren: Andrea (Jamie) Beard of Ankeny, IA, and Bradley (Mindy) Carlson of West Des Moines, IA; three great-grandchildren: Alayna Lynn Beard, Taylor Ann Beard, and Miles Lloyd Carlson; a sister, Janet Meinhold of Boulder, CO; niece, Lisa (Steve) Lang, and family Matthew, Jeffrey, and Michael of Wildwood, MO; nephews: Bob (Allison) Meinhold and family Bobby, Scott and Brooke of The Woodlands, TX; Van (Roddy) Hines of Plano, TX, and family Matt (Stephanie) Hines, Austin and Addison of Waco, TX, and extended family members.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd (2005); parents: Karl and Marvel Staab; parents-in-law: Mont and Kate Moody; sister-in-law: Kathryn Hines; brothers-in-law: Major Robert Meinhold and Donavan Hines.
Memorials may be directed to the Lake View Library; United Church of Christ, Lake View, IA; New Hope-Carroll, IA; or a charity of your choice.
