Fred Moyers

Fred Moyers

Fred Moyers, 96, of Mounds, died at 8:10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at his daughter’s home in Marion.

Mr. Moyers was born on Sept. 20, 1923, in Mound City, the son of Thomas Oren and Lena Irena Hayden Moyers.  

He married Helen Tally on Feb. 6, 1943.

Mr. Moyers was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 2, 1943. From March 1943 to May 1944, he trained to be a soldier and also trained to be an engineer and top turret gunner on a B-26 Air Force bomber. He took gunnery training at Fort Myers, Fla., and airplane mechanic school at Goldsboro, N.C.

On May 10, 1944 he departed for England, arriving on May 20, 1944.  He joined the 9th Air Force 394th Bomb Group, 587th Bomb Squadron, in England to prepare for the D-Day Normandy invasion. Their first targets were V-weapon sites, bridges, airdromes, and gun emplacements.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, they bombed gun positions at Cherbourg, France, afterwards striking communications, fuel supplies and strong points in support of the Normandy Campaign.

They took part in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945.  

Mr. Moyers flew over enemy Germany for eight months. He was shot down on his 45th mission and lived with the Germans for three months.

His battle and campaign ribbons included the European Africa Middle East Ribbon with four Bronze Stars, two Overseas Service Bars, the Air Medal and six oak leaf clusters. Mr. Moyers was honorably discharged from the service on Sept. 6, 1945.

After his service, Mr. Moyers became a certified entomologist.  He worked for Union Carbide for 17 years and was the owner and operator of Moyers Termite Control.  

He also held the positon of Pulaski County circuit clerk until his retirement. Mr. Moyers also was a licensed real estate agent in Illinois and Missouri.

He always loved learning about new things. He was a lifetime member of 75-plus years at the VFW in Mounds. He was a board member of the Mounds First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Helen; daughter Emily Jiran of Marion; son Brian (Ronna) Moyers of Mounds; granddaughters Jaymie Nunnery of Mt. Vernon, Racheal Robison of St. Louis and Sarah McLemore of Franklin, Tenn.; grandson Christian Howell of Marion; great-grandchildren, Brian Nunnery and Eli Nunnery, both of Mt. Vernon, Jack McLemore, Luke McLemore, Andrew McLemore and Kate McLemore, all of Franklin, Tenn., and Ellie Howell of Marion; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Gladys Louise Smith.

Funeral services were at noon Monday, Aug. 17, at the Mounds First United Methodist Church. Pastor Doug Atkins officiated. 

Interment followed in the Mound City National Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Illinois honor guard and local veterans.

Memorials can be made to Mounds First United Methodist Church. 

Crain Funeral Home in Cairo was in charge of arrangements.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.

 

 

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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