Walter Howard Moon

Walter Howard Moon of Becker, Mississippi passed away Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at Merit Health Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory after a long and courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was 88 years old.

Howard was born on May 28, 1928 in Becker to Walter Eli and Lyndia Rollins Moon. He graduated from Becker High School in 1946 and then completed course work at Raspberry Business School in Tupelo. He worked as the bookkeeper and office manager for 27 years at the various Chevrolet dealerships in Amory.

In 1975 Howard made a major career move by seeking the elected office of Monroe County Chancery Clerk. He won the election and went on to serve the citizens of Monroe County until his retirement in 1995. During his time in office, Howard was active in the Mississippi Chancery Clerk’s Association and sat on a number of committees and assisted in developing a training program for new clerks. In 1984 he served as the association president.

Howard had a strong sense of civic responsibility. He found ways to help his community, his county, and his state. At various times during his working and retirement years, Howard served on the Becker School Board, as a Monroe County Election Commissioner, on the board of Allied Enterprises, and on the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement Board. He was also a member of the Exchange Club of Aberdeen and a current member of the board of directors of First Federal Savings and Loan of Aberdeen.

More important to Howard than his civic duties was his call to be a worker in the vineyard of the Lord through Greenbrier United Methodist Church. He was a good steward of God’s money for more than 50 years as church treasurer. He served on numerous committees and was a delegate to the Mississippi United Methodist Annual Conference for several years. He was active in the Tupelo District’s United Methodist Board of Laity and was recognized this past spring for his 38 years of service.

In his spare time Howard enjoyed bird hunting, listening to bluegrass music, and talking politics. He was a gentleman farmer and was well-known in the area for his delicious tomatoes. While Howard thought all of God’s creatures were wonderful, he had a special love for dogs and horses.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Geneva Crump Moon of Becker; his loving daughters and their husbands, Rhonda and Mark Bowden of Brandon and Rebecca and Bobby Hudson of Aberdeen; his cherished grandchildren, Andrew Walter Bowden of St. Benedict, LA and Laura Marie Bowden of Brandon; a dear niece, Gloria Thornton Herring of Amory and her family; devoted friends, Lee and Lois Brasfield of Amory and their family and Ronnie Boozer of Splunge; and his special four-legged companion, Matilda.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents and his much loved sister, Rubye Moon Thornton Greene.

Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home in Amory. The funeral will be at 3:00 p.m. at Greenbrier United Methodist Church in Becker. Burial will follow at Greenbrier Cemetery. Officiants for the funeral are Rev. Sammy Washburn and Dr. Jimmy Barnes. Pallbearers are Ronnie Boozer, Brad Brasfield, Ricky Brasfield, Tommy Byars, Stan Herring, Billy Kirkpatrick, Larry Pickle, and Keith Whitaker. Honorary pallbearers are Art Smith and Steve Sullivan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Greenbrier United Methodist Church at P. O. Box 128, Becker, MS 38825 or to Greenbrier Cemetery at P. O. Box 95 Becker, MS 38825.

Memories and Condolences may be shared with his family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com.