Statue at Library garden dedicated for Victor Moss

Life with Victor Moss was a journey his widow Judy Pruett Moss of Poplar Bluff told those gathered Saturday to dedicate a statue of a great blue heron in his memory at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library. A journey she loved taking with him and their children.

The statue, a gift from the Scenic Rivers chapter of the Audubon Society, placed in the library’s sensory garden. Birding was one of Moss’ favorite activities.

The library’s director Sue Crites Szostak, talked about Moss’ service to his community starting with his work at the Social Security Administration for 27 years. After retiring, Szostak said, Moss worked at the library, as well as his family donating approximately 3,600 books from his personal collection to be used to benefit the library.

“He was quite a passionate man about all he did,” Szostak said.

His friend and fellow birder Bruce Beck recounted, Moss was an avid bird watcher and a member of the Audubon Society.

The great blue heron is a dramatic bird, explained Beck, who is a retired extension agronomist.

Beck said, he, Moss, Cindy Price, Mark Pelton and Cindy Bridges enjoyed searching for birds.

“Two years before he died, Cindy Price, he and I decided to find 200 species in Missouri,” Beck said. “We surpassed finding 212. We went to many different places to find many different birds.”

Moss and Beck finished a list of birds in Butler County which was printed by the garden clubs to place at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce and at the Mingo Wildlife Refuge.

Beck recalled, Moss had helped 20 years with the Christmas bird count.

While the local library benefited from his favorite books, Judy Moss said, his birding equipment was donated to Southeast Missouri State University, his alma mater, for new students to use.

Moss also enjoyed wildlife photography.

After retiring from Social Security, Moss realized he loved teaching. He became an adjunct instructor at Three Rivers College and in 2013 received the Adjunct Instructor of the Year award. Moss also was a substitute teacher at Twin Rivers and Neelyville Schools.

While Moss was enthusiastic about many things, he was most passionate about his family and included them in his life’s journey. Also attending the dedication were his children, Susan Roehl of Inman, Kan., and Bobby, Byron and Joseph, all of Poplar Bluff; and Chloe, the youngest of his three grandchildren. Two grandchildren, Terrell and Kandace Roehl, where unable to attend because of prior commitments.

Moss’ love for his children carried over into working with young people. He was active in the Boy Scouts serving in several capacities. He was a member of Order of The Arrow and had received the Silver Beaver Award. He helped in the Park Department as a coach and scorekeeper.

He was 65 when he died Sunday, June 8, 2014, at his residence.

Vic Moss’ family (from left) Byron Moss, Joseph Moss, Judy Moss, Susan Roehl of Inman, Kan., and Bobby Moss, pose in front of the great blue heron dedicated to his memory this weekend at the Poplar Bluff Library. DAR/Barbara Ann Horton