Joan Moseley

Joan Ruth Utterback Moseley, age 93, quietly left this world to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, after a lengthy illness and a broken heart. She passed away on November 28, 2025.

Joan was born on November 7, 1932, in Wellington, KS. She graduated from Wellington High School, Class of 1950. Joan excelled in music. Unbeknownst to her family, she received a scholarship to major in voice. Several of her teachers wrote glowing letters to scholarship boards on her behalf.

As a youth, some might have called her precocious, but truth be told, she was her daddy's girl. She took lessons in piano, tap dance, and the instrument she wished she could forget-the accordion. Her family never let her forget it, though she never gave us a concert. On each one of our birthdays, she would call and sing "Happy Birthday" in an Ethel Merman voice.

She wasn't shy growing up and loved to torment her older sister with pranks, like putting a turkey foot on her pillow before bedtime. They continued to prank each other well into adulthood. Back in those days, movie theaters had a stage, and they let talented residents perform between movies. Joan and her siblings put on many shows. Her father owning the movie theater might have had something to do with that, and they lived in a house two doors down the alley from the Regent Movie Theater. The whole family worked there at one point or another.

After graduation, she put furthering her music education on hold. Joan met and married the love of her life, Oral "Dean" Moseley, on February 15, 1953, in Wellington. For sixty wonderful years, they had at their core love, mutual respect, and lots of laughter.

Dean was stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Joan was initially to stay back in Wellington while Dean lived in the barracks, but she couldn't stand the separation. On a whim, she and another soldier's wife packed a bag and surprised their spouses for sure. They talked their way onto the base, and though that story had a couple of versions and endings, we'll never know which one is true.

On December 29, 1954, they welcomed their first son, Randall "Randy" Mark, followed by Terry Lynn on July 8, 1956. Joan worked at Dillon's Supermarket as head cashier and bookkeeper for over twenty-three years in Wellington.

She had many interests. Joan belonged to Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, the Legion and VFW Auxiliary, bridge club, Mahjong, choir, Airstream Travel Club, garden club, and Newmar RV Travel Club. She was also the best cook and hostess to hundreds.

From Ft. Leonard Wood to Wellington, KS; Grand Lake, OK; Alamo, TX; and all the places they visited in between, they made their home and their mark on this world.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Dean Moseley; her parents, Dewey and Shastah Utterback; her sister, Helen Jane Herrington (Beryl); her brother, Melvin "Mel" Utterback (Janie); her grandson, Ryan Moseley; and three special nephews.

Her greatest loss was losing both of her children, Randy and Terry, whom she lost just three weeks prior to her own passing.

She leaves to mourn her loss and cherish her memory her much-loved Mama Jo and Grandma: daughters-in-law Debra (Randy) of Lubbock, TX, and Dixie (Terry) of Owasso, OK; grandchildren Vanessa Moseley Dirks and husband Philip of Lubbock, TX; Nathan Moseley (Erin Nicole) of Broken Arrow, OK; Aaron Moseley (Sarah) of Bixby, OK; and Megan Moseley Loeber (Luke) of Balleroy, France.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Emery, Eloise, and John-Marc Loeber; Everleigh Moseley; and Ellington, Remington, and Mac Moseley, as well as many nieces and nephews. Any of her grandchildren's friends who met Joan loved her too and proudly called her "Grandma."

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Services have been entrusted to Schaudt Funeral Service. Friends & family may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com