Mrs. Florence Moon

Etta Florence Moon, age 89, left her life on earth to begin her life in heaven on Sunday, February 16, 2014, at her daughter's home in West Point after bravely battling Alzheimer’s for seven years. She was born in the Palo Alto community to Maggie Lou Howell Langford and John Claude Langford on December 13, 1924, and was proudly named after her two grandmothers: Etta Howell and Ida Florence Langford. She attended school in Siloam and graduated in their largest graduating class in 1943. She married Bill Moon on August 22, 1946, after dating him through letters while he was stationed on the U.S.S. Cassin Young (DD 793). They made their home in the Una Community and raised three children. Etta Florence was active in the Una Ladies Club, the Ladies Home Demonstration Club, the 4-H Club and Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. She was passionate about all of these and about family reunions. She was a skilled seamstress and made many award-winning, matching, mother/daughter ensembles (sometimes including the hats) to model at fashion shows. She also sewed for the public at home. She worked for a few years at an Okolona garment plant until her husband had a stroke in 1971. She then stayed at home for ten years caring for him until his death at the age of 60. Her mother, who had come to live with the family in the early years of child raising, then became home bound and she cared for her until her death in 1986. Etta Florence married Gordon Goddard in 1994 and they had ten wonderful years together until his death in 2004 at the age of 98. Etta Florence became in need of care herself three years later in 2007 when she fell and broke her hip and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She moved to West Point to live with her daughter and son-in-law and became involved in the senior exercise class at the local Wellness Center. One of the highlights was her dressing up as Minnie Pearl on Halloween for the class members. She loved to make people laugh. Etta Florence loved her family and friends, and was always attentive to their needs before her own, never asking or expecting anything in return. Her legacy will live on through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and the many friends whose lives she touched. In addition to her parents and husbands, Etta Florence is preceded in death by her sister Floy Scott; brothers, John C. Langford, Jr., James Langford, and Roy (“Sonny”) Langford. Funeral services will be February 18, 2014, at 2:00 PM from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Steve Lampkin officiating and assisted by Betty Wyatt. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Una. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements. She leaves three children, Roy Moon (Dot) of West Point, Dennis Moon (Cecilia) of Prairie, and Brenda Johnson (Marion) of West Point. She is survived by five grandchildren: Si Moon (Paige), Shannon Moon McKee, Connie Moon Stockton (Tommy), Melony Moon Palmer (Todd), and Adam Johnson. She leaves 11 great-grandchildren. She also leaves her special caregivers Ann Gunn who stayed with her daily for seven years and Ethel Walker. Pallbearers will be Si Moon, Adam Johnson, Dylan McKee, Tommy Stockton, Dally Moon, Gabe Moon, Kenneth McKee, and Todd Palmer. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Nurses & Staff of the North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice, Ann Gunn, Ethel Walker, Danny Gentry, Gene Grubbs, George Knox, John Cangelosi, and Ken Harrelson. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Methodist Church Building Fund, C/O Mr. Gene Grubbs, 8720 Baker Road, Prairie, MS 39756 or to Alzheimers Association Mississippi Chapter, 1900 Dunbarton Drive, Suite H, Jackson, MS 39216. Visitation will be Monday 5:00-8:00 PM at Calvert Funeral Home.