Joan Howell Moss
September 26, 1932 ~ March 1, 2023
Born in:
Tharpe, TN
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Betty “Joan” Howell Moss, 90, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
A native of Tharpe, TN, Joan was a daughter of the late Anderson and Floy Robertson Howell. Joan inherited her joy for life from her father and her love of education from her mother. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Harold Abbiati Moss, who passed away on March 24, 2022.
Joan worked for many years at National Life and Life & Casualty, in Nashville, TN. There she met Harold, and they married in 1957. She then moved with him back to his beloved mountains. She attended Cecil’s Business College and later worked for several years at Western Electric in Asheville before becoming a full-time mother. Later in life, she loved her time spent as a substitute teacher at Emma Elementary School.
In her spare time, she enjoyed working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and loved time spent with dogs. She was a member of the Asheville Church of Christ, read her Bible daily, and loved her Lord.
She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Moss-Shackelton and son-in-law, Steve Shackelton; loving step-granddaughters, Britney and Brooke Shackelton; siblings, Rex Howell and wife Nola, Peggy Jackson and husband Jim, and Marilyn McIntyre and husband Roger; nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.
Her family will receive friends at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday followed by the funeral service. Mr. Joe Hickman will officiate. Interment will follow at Green Hills Cemetery. The funeral will be live streamed and can be watched by clicking on the following link: https://boxcast.tv/channel/tciyqoacvyq2i28vwu6l
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to MemoryCare of Asheville, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803.
Services
Visitation: March 5, 2023 2:00 pm - January 25, 2025 3:00 pm
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Funeral Service: March 5, 2023 3:00 pm
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Burial:
Green Hills Cemetery
25 New Leicester Hwy.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-9831
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Jo~I didn’t know Roger and Marilyn knew how to get in touch with you. I’ve thought about you over the years. Looked on Facebook but couldn’t find you. Such sweet comments. Patricia
Patricia, I am so sorry for your loss. She was such a good person. Keeping you and the family in my prayers.
Wishing you comfort and peace.
To my Mother-in-Law I love you so much and am going to miss you even more. Our time together every morning preparing breakfast and going over the upcoming days adventures. Our rides together where everything was so beautiful in your eyes. Enjoy your time being back in Harold’s arms and rest assured I will take care of your Baby girl.
I will always believe she was an Angel in our midst. I will always remember sitting outside with her and seeing her light up at the sight and sounds of the birds, the wildlife of any really, and listening to many of her life stories. Which, most often would be about her sweet daughter, her amazing husband and how they met and came to be an “item”. We would talk about life and relationships, and her journey. God was a consistent topic in our conversations and I will cherish her sharing the Lord with me. The LOVE that she carried for people and animals is beyond what I have ever seen and so BIG how did she carry all that in such a little body, I would think!
The way she loved my Aspen and loved me, I will forever cherish in my heart and in my soul! To say she will be missed is an understatement! She will be terribly missed! She meant so much to me! I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to know her, I only wish had been for longer! My thought of you now, is of you and your beloved husband dancing in heaven!
She loved you.
Dear Patricia- I was so sorry to read of you Mom’s passing. Please accept my deepest sympathies at this difficult time.
Dearest Patricia,
My deepest sympathies. I remember your mom from our days at Emma. She always had the kindest eyes and a beautiful smile. Thinking of you my friend.
The sweetest person on Earth. My Aunt I remember going down the hill to get water with her and dad in Tharpe
Dad was teaching her to drive. She drove back up the hill. A car was coming down the hill she said Rex what do I do. Dad just said stay on your side.
We have all heard the saying “it’s all about timing.’ For me, that was never more true than last weekend when I visited North Carolina and had the privilege and honor of meeting Mama for the first time. As it turns out it was also sadly the last time. We have all also heard the saying “good people“. Mama was the epitome of good people. If only the world was full of more people just like her. Sitting in the same room with her, you just had such a sense of peace and calmness. She had a kind and gentle soul, and was always giving you and everyone around her compliments. Even when you weren’t feeling pretty the fact that she said were, made you believe it because it was said with the upmost sincerity. I know that Steve and Patricia are devastated by this loss, but they can move forward knowing that she loved them more than anything. Their devotion to her and their love for her was unwavering and a joy to see. It’s funny that I only knew her for a very short period of time but she will be missed. She had that much of an impact on me. She just made you want to be a better person. Since I have been home, I have tried to reach out to at least one person to give them a compliment because you never know what kind of day they’ve been having and that may just make it a little bit better.
Patricia, we are so sorry to hear about your mom. We have been away and just heard today. We are traveling home and won’t be able to be at her visitation. She was such a sweet lady. You are in our prayers.
There’s so many things I wish for today! Wish we could be there with the you – Patricia, Marilyn and all the family. I wish Lowell could remember all the time in Asheville. I wish you could hold on to Joan a lot longer. But none of these wishes are possible but seeing each other in the hereafter in our heavenly home with our Lord and Savior is our hope and promise. We love you all. May God give you peace and comfort in the coming days!
Carol and Lowell
When I first read the news of Joan passing my heart just sank and the tears came. Vince and I can’t express enough how grateful we are to have known this beautiful, kind, genuine, gentle but tough God loving sister in Christ. She had the soul of an angel and the wit of a comedian. I know life without her is going to feel empty at times but the love, laughter, and beautiful memories of her will always be there to fill that void. We love you all are praying for you to be comforted.
Vince and Cathy
Patricia & Steve,
You are in our thoughts and prayers for the loss of your Mother. Joan will always remain in our hearts and memories forever. One of the many loving memories of Joan was her greeting with open arms upon our arrival to visit. We are holding you in our hearts with prayers and loving thoughts throughout these difficult times.
Patricia, I just wanted to say again how very sorry I am for your great loss. Joan was such a sweet soul, and always treated me with the greatest kindness. Although I haven’t been around the past few years, I know at any time she would welcome me with open arms. I remember during your sickness how she was comforting me more than I was comforting her. What a joy she was! I know the days will be hard, but knowing she is rejoicing with the Lord is the ultimate peace. Much love to you and Steve during these days to come.