Michael Scott Moon was born to the late W.C. “Bob” Moon and Irene Banks Moon on Wednesday, May 18, 1955 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On Sunday, Sept. 1, he died around noon surrounded by his friends and loved ones.
Between his birth and his death, between those two dates, he lived a life that touched many.
Growing up, he got his start working with his father building church steeples. His dad’s business involved traveling across the country to construct steeples for various churches
Not only did traveling for work bring him across the country, but it also spurred his family to move. Originally settling in Burkesville, Tenn., they later found their way to Greensburg. In the area, he helped build the steeple for Antioch in Columbia, where Pastor Moon would later preach, and he also became involved in the Green County school district, working in maintenance for 13 years.
“He loved to have the opportunity to interact with young people and be a positive influence in their lives. And I’ve talked to some of those young people who have grown up to be ministers. He was a very giving person, more so than almost anyone else could be,” Terry Partin said. Partin is a long-time member of Jones Chapel Church where Moon would be pastor for 15 years.
His love of children extended to his own. A father of five children—two biological, three adopted with his wife Debrah Morgan Moon, whom he married on May 11, 1990—he was described by his wife and son, Charlie, as being heavily involved in their lives.
“He always went to Charlie’s Cross Country meets… he was always there,” Mrs. Moon said.
“He always made sure we were well taken care of,” Charlie added.
In 2009, he was appointed to become pastor at Jones Chapel Church by the United Methodist Conference. He also served at Antioch Church before eventually going full-time at Jones Chapel.
While at Jones Chapel, Partin says that, “He shared love and knowledge and led us in the right path for 15 years. He was excellent in his knowledge and interpretation of scripture. He was a great teacher... He taught us forgiveness… He taught us how to love. He taught us how to walk in the way that the Lord would expect us to.
“But perhaps more importantly,” Partin continued, “he loved every person who came through the doors of the church and it was evident. And the entire church loved him as well… He was there for everyone throughout their daily lives. He was there to care for us when we lost loved ones, he was there for marriages, he was part of raising our children—he loved our children like they were his own.”
In his own life, he strove to ensure that his lessons were not relegated to the chapel. He wanted to carry his teachings out himself and to lead by example.
This came through in his interactions with others, with his congregation, and with his family.
After giving so much of himself to his church, one of his last wishes was to preach there again. Unfortunately, he was hospitalized and could not get to his beloved Jones Chapel.
So Jones Chapel came to him.
“(In August), the church came to the hospital and the entire congregation came there. The hospital arranged for us to (have space). He got to see everyone one last time. That meant the world to him,” Mrs. Moon recalls.
In his personal life, he loved to joke (mostly by way of dad jokes) and to tell stories.
“He always had a smile on his face,” his family said. He was the kind of person who never met a stranger and would not hesitate to speak to anyone.
“He was old fashioned,” Charlie said. “Every time he had the chance to take a back road he would. He loved watching the sun set. He loved the outdoors, he loved fishing, and hunting. He loved to kayak and all that. He loved Dolphin Island (in Alabama). That’s where we plan to spread his ashes at, is Dolphin Island.”
For those who wish to attend, Moon’s memorial service will be held this Friday at six p.m. at the Cowherd and Parrott Funeral Home in Greensburg. Visitation is scheduled from1 p.m., until time of the memorial service.
In addition to his wife, his five children and their spouses who survive him are Josh and Sarah Moon, Erica and Lauren Meredith, Charlie Moon, Thaddeus Moon, and Hanna Moon.
His family added that, “We want to thank the community of Adair County for the love and support they have shown us. You have celebrated with us, and when we faced difficult times, you were right there by our side.”
By Kenley Godby
kenley@adairvoice.com
