1927-2022
William L. Moody (Bill), 94, passed away on Sunday, February 27 in Fort Myers, Fl., where he had been a beloved member of the Cypress Cove Senior Living Community for the past eight years. Funeral services were held at Dilday-Carter Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 9th, Burial followed by a graveside service at Oak Hill Cemetery. He and his wife, Dorothy Coats Moody, retired to the Lexington Country Club in Fort Myers in 2002 to enjoy the weather, golf, and to spend time with friends, children, and grandchildren.
Bill was born in Yuma. He and his wife Dot along with their two children, Mark and Jill, lived in Huntingdon, then later McKenzie and Dyersburg. After graduating from Huntingdon High School in 1945, Mr. Moody received an Associate’s Degree from Bethel College and a BS in Accounting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, enrolling through the GI Bill after serving two years in the US Navy aboard the USS Knapp in the Pacific.
After working as Sales Manager for Vickers Motor Company in Huntingdon, Bill co-owned two thriving car dealerships; Russell Chevrolet Olds in McKenzie and Moody-Wadley in Dyersburg. Mr. Moody built car dealerships that were known throughout West Tennessee for their integrity and excellent service, and over the years, he received numerous awards of excellence from both GMC and Toyota. Bill had a passion for the car business, but mostly he had a passion for people. He was loved and respected by those he employed and by the customers he served. He never met a stranger and he never tired of the day to day life of providing for his family while running his business and serving his community. Early in his career, Bill served his hometown of Huntingdon as President of the Huntingdon Lion’s Club, the Huntingdon Jaycees, and the Huntingdon Elks, and as Commander of both the American Legion and VFW, as two term Alderman for the City of Huntingdon, as a member of the Board of Education for Huntingdon Special School District, and as Special Gifts Chairperson of the Carroll County Cancer Society. He and his family were devoted members of the First Baptist Church. Bill was a founding member of the Huntingdon Mustangs Quarterback Club. He brought his deep love of football, especially the Huntingdon Mustangs, to life every Friday night in the press box where he was well-known for calling plays with enthusiasm and accuracy. And he was a passionate fan of the Tennessee Vols – assisting in recruiting efforts among talented West Tennessee high school graduates as President of the Carroll County chapter of the UT General Association and holding season tickets for his beloved Vols for many many years. Kentucky Lake was his other “favorite place on Earth” and he spent many happy hours fishing the lake with his family and friends.
“Everybody knows Billy Moody” was a well worn phrase in Carroll County and beyond. Bill Moody’s heart was deep and wide and his joy for living life was infectious to all those around him. He believed people are good – he loved them, and they loved him back. As a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather “Daddy Bill’s” love knew no bounds. He felt blessed to have been given his beautiful family and he shared this fact daily with any and everyone who would listen up until the day he died. He reminded us all that true joy results from giving yourself completely to love. We will miss his jokes, his charm, and his boundless faith in people and in God’s goodness.
Mr. Moody is pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 66 years; Dorothy Mai Coats Moody. He is survived by one son; William Mark Moody (Patricia Lantis), of New York City, one daughter; Jill Moody Bateman (Terry), of Chevy Chase, Maryland, three grandchildren; William Allan Bateman (Jennifer Anne), Claire Bateman Graziano (Nick), all of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Anna Bateman Birdsong (Sam), of Athens, GA along with four great-grandchildren; Addison Grey Bateman (Addie), William Alan Bateman (Liam), Walker James Graziano, and George Allan Birdsong. Mr. Moody is also survived by many treasured nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and nieces.
