- Date Of Birth: February 23, 1942
- Date Of Death: September 29, 2021
- State: Iowa
Sharilyn “Kay” (Carter) Moss went to be with her Savior, bridegroom and her earthly love Leonard on September 29, 2021. She was surrounded by her loving family as she made her heavenly journey home.
Kay was born February 23, 1942 in Des Moines to Clarence (Sheik) and Ella Belle (Billie) Vanderley Carter. She was a North High graduate. She attended Lincoln Bible Institute in Lincoln, Illinois to study to be a teacher. She met Leonard Moss at Iowa Methodist Hospital and they were married March 25, 1961. She attended Des Moines school of L.P.N., because at that time no married women were allowed in the nursing schools.
She loved nursing especially OB. She worked at Lutheran, Blank, Dallas County Hospital, and for Dr. Castle and Dr. Lister in Dallas Center. She worked at Adel Acres Care Center for 20 years, learning and loving how precious the elderly, young at heart, are. Due to cancer she had to retire.
Kay and Leonard made their home in Dallas Center which had a revolving door for people and animals. They farmed for several years and the city girl became a farm girl. It was her pleasure to help Leonard take care of livestock and do field work. She loved cooking for lots of company and they had chili-hay-rack ride parties in October for 100 or more guests. She started a guest table cloth in 1980 and it is full of names who visited. People signed their names on it and Kay embroidered them. Family, missionaries, pastors, basketball teams, a huge assortment of foreign exchange students and Japanese children. There were always children around and all ate well as she canned and froze lots of food. She loved all her exchange students, 28 of them, and provided foster care for 33 years and adopting 4 children. She loved her family deeply, especially her grandchildren and enjoyed them when they were with her and making cookies.
She had been a member of the Dallas Center Fire and Rescue Department, a member of Grace Brethren Church in Dallas Center and First Christian Church in Titusville Florida. Her church was also her family. Kay and Leonard were one of five couples that began Christ’s Church in West Des Moines in the 1970’s.
Kay is survived by her precious children: Andrew (Virginia) of Winchester, Illinois, Amy (Joel) Hofland and Melody (Ron) Steilen both in Dallas Center, Iowa, Philip (Kim) of Coralville, Iowa, Dawn Moss and Megan Moss both in Des Moines Iowa, and Micah (Sara) of Lewisville, Texas; her sister, Cindy (John) Arbogast of Ankeny, Iowa, her brothers, David Carter of Altoona, Iowa and Larry Carter; and a daughter in law, Paula Moss of Grimes. As well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and loving friends; 30 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; son, Richard; parents; brother, Ronald Carter; her in-laws, Paul Moss, Beulah Moss Reed and Ray Reed; brother in law, Jerry Moss; nephew, Ethan Moss and dearest friend, Pat Foster.
