May 17, 1947 – Sept. 10, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Monroe Jackson “Jack” Moody Jr., 64, of Natchez, who died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at University Medical Center in Jackson, after suffering blunt trauma to his head from a fallen tree limb while working on furniture in his yard, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Allison Foster Moody officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.

Jack was born May 17, 1947, in Natchez, the third of four children born to Monroe Jackson Moody Sr. and Mary Haralson Moody. He was a 1965 graduate of Natchez High School. He served as sergeant in Company B, 155th Infantry Battalion in the U.S. Army National Guard during the Vietnam Era. He graduated in the top of his class at the University of Southern Mississippi as a certified public accountant. He worked for accounting firms and oil corporations in New Orleans for more than 10 years. Missing his family and the country, he moved home to Natchez where he worked for an accounting firm and then Ogden Oil for a short time before opening his own private CPA practice. With a desire to help people, he changed careers and became a registered nurse in Critical Care. He had graduated in the top of his nursing program and worked as an RN for 14 years. He had just retired from St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.

Jack was an avid whitewater rafter, canoeist, hunter and marksman. He loved boating and fishing in local lakes and rivers. In 1965, Jack with his horse “Slim,” won first and second place awards in the State Calf Roping Competition. He was a devoted walker along the Natchez Bluff, an artistic talent in woodworking, a successful stock investor, well read in a number of fields and subjects, enjoyed working around the house, yard and garden.

He served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church and was a long standing member of the American Canoe Association.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved God, family, friends, life and enjoying nature.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Monroe Jackson Moody III.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Judy Green Moody; two children, Mary Moody Gardner and husband, Thomas, of Lexington, Ky., and Merrick Moody and wife, Stephanie, of Deptford, N.J., three grandchildren, Monroe Jackson Moody IV, Emily Jane Moody and William Benjamin Gardner; and three siblings, Allison Foster Moody of Monroe, La., John Haralson Moody of Los Angeles and Helen Rowan Beach of Natchez.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Sierra Club, the American Canoe Association, the Natchez or Jackson branches of the Humane Society or any church of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.