Moellers, Ruby Nell (Moody) 1934 - 2024

MOELLERS, MOODY, ROBBINS, BUSCH, BROWN, BUSAROW

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/19/2024 at 13:49:43

Ruby Nell Moellers, age 90 years young, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 11, 2024. Ruby Nell Moody was born on March 9, 1934 to Chester Boyce Moody and Vonciel Robbins Moody of Dillon County, South Carolina. Nell was raised on a tobacco farm with three brothers, Garrett, Boyce and Bryan. Her least favorite chore was picking horned worms off of the tobacco plant and putting them in a pop bottle, but she earned a nickel for a full bottle! In tradition with her family’s Southern Baptist faith, she was baptized at the age of 10 in the PeeDee River.

After graduation from high school, Nell continued her education at Columbia Baptist Hospital. Working her way thru school, she received her RN certification. From there she went on to work at Bishopville County Hospital where she caught the eye of a young serviceman. After dating Reginald Joseph Moellers for several months, he went home to Iowa where they continued their courtship by mail, Reginald traveling frequently to South Carolina. Nell made her first trip to Iowa in January of 1957. Undeterred by an Iowa winter, Nell accepted Reginald’s proposal and they were wed on November 9,1957 in South Carolina. Leaving family and friends, Nell bravely moved, bringing her Southern charm, sweet tea, okra and grits to Iowa. Nobody could fry better chicken or make better field peas. Her secret to frying chicken was balancing on one foot with the other foot perched just below her knee the entire time! Nell converted to Catholicism and to this union were born seven children; Judith (Jerry) Busch, John (Carol) Moellers, Joel (Penny) Moellers, Janice (Jerry) Brown, Jean Yvette (deceased 1964), Jennifer (John) Busarow, and James (Kim) Moellers.

Reginald had to make several promises to his young wife to convince her to move to Iowa. One of which was that she would see her mother every year. Every other year they loaded the family into the car and drove to South Carolina. Before the interstate system was completed, the trip took 3 days. Preparations for that trip must have taken weeks. Ordering matching outfits for the girls and the boys from the Sears catalogue, hand making wash cloth pillows for each child, packing small games and toys and stocking up on Dramamine. And finally the hardest chore, keeping six young children quiet enough so that dad could drive in peace. On the off year, Grandmother Moody flew to Iowa for two or three weeks.

Reg and Nell took many other trips together, often to Polka Fests, many of which included a few days of fishing. They once drove west following the Lewis and Clark trail and then they headed north to Alaska. International travels included Ireland and another trip to Italy.

Nell worked night’s full time as an OB nurse at Palmar Lutheran Hospital in West Union for 42 years. She chose to work the night shift so that she could be home during the days with her family, snatching naps when she could. She loved taking care of the new moms and babies. We still often hear “Oh your mom helped deliver my baby, she was the best!” When she helped deliver the grandbaby of one of the babies she had delivered, she decided it might be time to retire. After her “retirement”, she worked several years part time at Ossian Senior Hospice.

Nell was a loving wife and a wonderful, caring mother. She was extremely proud of each of her children. She was just as proud of the grand babies and great grand babies as they came along. The more the merrier!

Nell was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Garret and her infant daughter Jean Yvette. She is survived by two brothers Boyce Moody and Bryan (Barbara) Moody living in Columbia, South Carolina. She is also survived by Reginald, her husband of 67 years, and 6 children, 19 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a CDA Rosary at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before Mass at the church on Wednesday.

A Mass of Christian Life Celebration will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian, Iowa with Rev. Henry P. Huber as the Celebrant.

Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Ossian, Iowa is assisting the family with services.

Source: Grau Funeral Home database