Anna Moss

Anna Jeanne Knox Moss Lima, MT - Anna Jeanne (Jeanne) Moss passed away peacefully at home November 30, 2018 following a short illness. She was born in Dillon, MT on May 9, 1935, the youngest of William D. and Ethel A. (Martinell) Knox’s six children. She grew up on the Knox ranch 18 miles up Sage Creek east of Dell. Due to harsh winters up Sage Creek, the family also maintained a small winter home in Dell so she and her older siblings could attend grade school at the little brick schoolhouse in Dell, now the site of Yesterday’s Calf-A. Growing up she enjoyed helping her father with the livestock and her mother with cooking, baking and sewing; outdoor activities; music, singing and playing the piano; and spending time with family. These became major themes throughout her life. Jeanne graduated from high school in Lima in 1953 and soon afterward married Dee Leslie Mayer on June 13th of that year. Following Dee’s stint in the army the young couple lived in various places in Utah, Idaho and Montana as Dee pursued ranch work, truck driving and commercial flying. Of that union were born three sons: Mike, Rex and Dan. Dee was killed in a plane crash in 1965, and Jeanne took on work as an optometrist’s assistant in Dillon to support her young sons. She later met and fell in love with David Isaac Moss, and they were married on August 5, 1968. She and her sons joined Dave and his children Jim, Levi, Wendy, and Renee on his ranch east of Lima where they raised cattle and sheep. She loved ranch life and partnering with Dave to make a living off the land and raise their large blended family. She and Dave always made sure that the hard work was offset by lots of opportunities for family fun and enjoyment. After the children graduated and moved away, they sold the ranch and moved to Lima in 1984 where they have lived to this day. As with ranch life, Jeanne and Dave were partners in Dave’s business selling real estate and doing excavation and hauling work; she handled bookkeeping tasks and helped with all that goes into running a family-owned business. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in August 2018 at a gathering in Lima where they were joined by many of their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and friends. Jeanne was a kind, sweet and gentle soul who loved the Lord, her family and serving others. She was a wonderful cook, seamstress and musician, and taught many of her children and grandchildren those skills. She also had a green thumb and grew beautiful flowers that graced their yard. She loved to help Dave with the garden and put up the fruits of their labor during harvest season. She was attentive to the needs of others and always worked hard to be the best person she could be. She also had a fiery side that those closest to her discovered on rare occasions when pushed too far. She referred to that as her “Knox temper.” Jeanne was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Lima, serving on the Women’s Relief Society, teaching the children in Primary, working with the youth, and playing the organ during church services. Her faith was a major focus of her life, and she relied on that and the support of family and friends as she faced many health challenges over the years. She survived two bouts with cancer, a brush with a meningitis-like illness, and the advancing effects of arthritis and an auto-immune disorder that led to circulatory problems, painful joints, muscles and limited mobility. She always maintained a positive attitude through it all and seldom complained. She was a survivor. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents William and Ethel Knox; sisters Gertrude “Gertie” Gosman, Marie Gibbons, Ellen “Bessie” Fleming, and Alice Brown; and step-son Levi Moss. She is survived by her brother Carl Knox of Lima, husband Dave Moss of Lima, sons Dan (Angie) Mayer of Lima, Rex (Tammy) Mayer of Sandy, Utah, and Mike ( Sue) Mayer of Missoula; step-daughters Renee (David) Neumann of Spanish Fork, Utah, Wendy (Bert) McLaughlin of Parker, Idaho, step-son Jim (Lorrie) Moss of Las Vegas, Nevada, daughter-in-law Jana Moss of Texarkana, Texas; 25 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. A reception will be held at the Lima School multipurpose room after graveside services at the Lima Cemetery. Those who may wish to make a contribution in Jeanne’s memory may select the Knox Brown Scholarship Fund, the Lima School, or the charity of their choice. It is impossible to sum up her life in a few short paragraphs, but it is easy to say that her life was a life well lived– full of happiness, love, and devotion to her Lord and her family. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.