Orris L. Mosby

Orris L. Mosby, 85, died Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, at his farm on Old Cape Road, Jonesboro.

He was born on April 19, 1933, in Alexander County, the son of Orris Mosby and Blanche Meisenheimer Mosby.

He was a 1951 graduate of Wolf Lake High School and attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale before enlisting with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. 

He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant and returned home to Jonesboro, where he and his father formed the Mosby Farms partnership. 

He was also the owner/operator of Mosby Locker Service in Dongola before selling that business to Home Meat Processors. Mr. Mosby continued farming until 1995.

Mr. Mosby served on many agricultural boards and committees, both locally and statewide. 

He was an avid traveler who was a full-time RVer for many years traveling throughout the United States and Canada. 

As his health began to fail in 2016, he moved into the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. In that year, one of his proudest moments was participating in the Veteran’s Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. 

Recently, he could still be found working on the Jonesboro family farm. 

He also greatly enjoyed attending church services at Kornthal Church and participated with all work days to maintain and preserve the historic Kornthal Cemetery. 

Mr. Mosby is survived by two sons, Bruce (Cindy) Mosby of Jonesboro and Mark Mosby of Jonesboro; one daughter, Sue Mosby Little and family of St. Louis; two grandsons, Brandon Mosby of Huntsville, Ala., and Matthew Chumbler of Carbondale; one granddaughter, Katie Mosby of Huntsville, Ala.; and his former wife, Joan Mowery of Jonesboro. He is also survived by numerous cousins and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Donna Mosby.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro, with Bill Littrell officiating. 

Interment was in the Jonesboro Cemetery. Graveside military rites were conducted by Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 of the VFW in Anna and the Scott Air Force Base military honor team. 

Memorials can be made to the activity fund at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna, to the Southern Illinois Veteran’s Honor Flight or to Kornthal Cemetery. 

To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro was in charge of arrangements.