Joan Moon

Joan Moon

1933 - 2011

Fayette resident Helen Joan Moon died February 18, 2011 at the Fayette Caring Center.

The daughter of Wallace and Nellie (Hughes) Hammond, Joan was born March 26, 1933 at the Hammond family home on Rt. W in rural Fayette. She attended Dudgeon School and Fayette High School where she was valedictorian of her 1951 class. She graduated from Central Methodist College in 1955 with a BSE in Elementary Education. She married Reverend Jerry Moon August 7, 1955 at Moniteau Chapel near Fayette.

She began her teaching career in Moberly in 1955 and taught in various elementary schools throughout the state. In 1963 she and her husband moved to Dulac, Louisiana where they were employed by the Woman’s Division of the Board of Missions of the United Methodist Church. During that time she directed the preschool program and supervised the teen programming at Dulac Community Center. After returning to Missouri in 1969, she continued teaching and working along side her husband, ministering to the congregations they served. She was very active in promoting children’s youth and women’s ministries of the church. In 1991, she and Jerry returned to Fayette where she was the parent educator for the school system’s Parents as Teachers Program for five years.

Joan and Jerry co-directed several elementary and youth canoe camps at Camp Galilee Wilderness Camp and also lead many mission education trips. Together they were volunteers with the NOMADS (Nomads On Mission Active in Divine Service). They spent the last six summers as volunteers in the chaplains department at Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies. Joan loved camping and traveling with her family, bird watching, gardening and playing the piano.

Survivors include her husband, Jerry, two daughters, Cindy (Allen) Garrett of Fayette and Susie (Michael) Kraeski of Littleton, CO; four grandchildren, Julie (Wes) Friebe, Jessie Garrett, Katie Kraeski and Grandon Kraeski; one great granddaughter, Aleigh Grace Friebe; one sister, Jewell Marie Snell of Fayette and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be 11 A.M., Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at Linn United Methodist Church in Fayette with Revs. Eric Moore and Jamie Page officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial was in the Fayette City Cemetery with serving as pallbearers. Memorials are suggested to Linn UMC or Alzheimers Research in care of Friemonth-Freese Funeral Service, 174 Hwy. 5 & 240 N Fayette, MO 65248.