of Conway, AR
October 5, 1930 - December 6, 2015
Joe Mosby, 85, of Conway, a professional writer for 64 years, died after a battle with brain cancer. The cause was metastastic malignant melanoma.
He and his wife of 61 years, Mary Starr Mosby, lived near Conway and have four children, eight grandchildren, a step-grandchild, 10 great-grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Children are Jana Carol Hemleb and Mary Frances Halter, both of Barney (Enola), Gwendolyn Starr Allison of Guy and Jody Mosby of Conway. Grandchildren are Rachel Puckett of Conway, Andrea Bassett of Conway, Brian Bucklew of Delmont, S.D., Starr Lane of Guy, Alex Hemleb of Sugar Land, Texas, Aaron Allison of Guy, Paden Thorn of Greenbrier and Seth Allison of Greenbrier. Chad Halter of Conway is a step-grandson. Great-grandchildren are Isaiah Puckett of Conway, Devin Lane of Guy, Bailey Bassett of Conway, Andrew Bucklew of Delmont, S.D., Noah Lane of Guy, Addison Thorn of Greenbrier, Brooklyn Bassett of Conway, Lydia Bucklew of Delmont, S.D., Holly Puckett of Conway, Joseph Bucklew of Delmont, S.D., Kennedy Allison of Conway and Hunter Hemleb of Sugar Land, Texas. Nathan Rooney, Shelby Rooney, Amberleigh Rooney of Greenbrier and Eva Halter of Conway are step great-grandchildren.
Mosby was born Oct. 5, 1930, in Dallas, Texas to Arthur and Mary Mosby. Members of pioneer Arkansas and Texas families, he grew up in Crawfordsville (Crittenden County). He graduated from Messick High School in Memphis, Tenn., and attended the University of Memphis, the University of Arkansas and a summer term at the University of Texas. He started his newspaper career in 1952 with the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway.
Mosby wrote thousands of newspaper articles with his longest tenure as the Arkansas Gazette's outdoor editor. He was with the Little Rock newspaper from 1969 until it closed in 1991. He said, ''I was something of a different kind of outdoor writer because I was a newsman assigned to the outdoor beat instead of an outdoorsman becoming a writer.''
His career was roughly divided into three parts. His early journalism years were with rural newspapers, where he learned to appreciate the intense interest in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation for many people. On those rural papers, he learned to operate a Linotype machine if anyone remembers what a Linotype was, to hand-set metal type and to dictate and transcribe all types of news stories as well as meet and greet the public.
After the Arkansas Gazette closed in 1991, he wrote and did other communication for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions until near his death. All through his 64-year professional career, in addition to train wrecks, murders and school board meetings, he had covered sports at the high school and college levels. Numerous state championship events have had Joe at the press table.
He seldom crusaded as a writer. Instead, he presented both sides of controversies for readers to make up their own minds. He placed importance on background articles, the ''why'' material that led to new or changed regulations in hunting and fishing and with habitat work. A special interest was stories of ordinary people, especially youngsters, who find excitement and enjoyment in the outdoors.
Joe was a 2002 inductee into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame, was recognized by the Arkansas Press Association for 50 years in journalism and was given the Arkansas Activities Association's Distinguished Service Award for his years of covering high school athletics. He has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.
Visitation will be 6-8pm Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 1pm Friday, December 11, 2015 in the chapel of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Bucklew officiating.
Pallbearers will be David Lane, T.J. Puckett, Paden Thorn, Seth Allison, Aaron Allison, Alex Hemleb, Tim Bassett, Brian Bucklew and Patrick Moix. Ron Duncan, Ron Parker, Stan Russ, Hubert Ferguson, David McCullum, Wadie Moore, Aubrey Shepherd and Jim Bailey will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway
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30 Condolence(s)
Andy Isely
Sunday, December 13, 2015
He was a great man and I always enjoyed talking to him.
Hubert Ferguson
Friday, December 11, 2015
I had the privilege of working in the same office with Joe for several years and watched as he developed as a journalist with a keen mind and high personal and professional standards. It is an honor to be known as Joe's friend. hf
Joe Palmer
Friday, December 11, 2015
I am very sorry for your loss Joe was a good man who will be missed by all that knew him .
Karen
Friday, December 11, 2015
There is no situation too hard for God. Lean and depend on him in your time of sorrow. He will be there for you, comfort you and bring you through. He Loves you more than we will ever know. He is God and above him there is no other. Let him wrap you in his loving arms and know that he is with you always and forever. My prayers are with you.
Terry
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Joe was a great journalist, a talented columnist, a dedicated conservationist, and a truly "good" person. I am fortunate to have known him and to develop a working relationship and a friendship with him since we first met in the late 1970s. Joe wrote informative, entertaining, and interesting articles. He had ceaseless energy and dedication to crafting a quality journalistic product. He was very soft spoken, but his typewriter, and later his keyboard, spoke loudly to the thousands of Arkansans who enjoyed his articles throughout his decades of work. Our prayers are with all of his loved ones, and we thank our Lord for giving Joe such wonderful writing skills and a true love for Arkansas' great outdoors.
Rebecca McDougal
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Bless your sweet soul. I enjoyed seeing you walk into the office each week. You will be missed.
Peace, Prayers and Blessings
Rebecca McDougal
AGFC - CERE
Mark Baron
Thursday, December 10, 2015
My thoughts and prayers for the family. Mr Joe was a true gentleman and will be missed.
T.L. & Jennifer Starr
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Uncle Joe was simply the best. You hear that phrase a lot, but it truly applies to Joe. Our family and the state of Arkansas lost an important part of our lives, but his legacy lives on in all the thousands of articles he has written.
Sheila DeVoss
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Andrea and Tim and the kids :
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time , Joseph
he will be dearly missed and loved by so many I didn't know him personally but he was a Great man with a Heart of Gold , May God wrap his loving arms around each and everyone of you at this time . R.I.P. Joseph And God Bless you and your family : With Love Sheila
Beverly Sutton
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Joe Mosby was as fine a man as there ever was. He was a kind and gentle spirit and a blessing to all who knew and worked with him at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. May God bless and comfort his family during these difficult days.
Glen and Roslyn Bullion
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Our love and prayers are with you May God bless you all.
Glen and Roslyn Bullion
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Our love and prayers are with you May God bless you all.
Larry Hedrick
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Joe Mosby was as fine a journalist as I've ever known. He never went off half cocked. When he produced an article you can bet that he had all his facts straight and had examined the issue from every angle and in great depth. In the great newspaper war his was a voice of sanity amid a whirlwind of often scurrilous and sensationalized reporting that characterized that era. And, as good a journalist as he was, he was a better human being. He was soft-spoken, kind, and compassionate. I knew Joe for nearly 30 years. He was a friend. I will miss him.
Steve N Wilson
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Joe's death was a loss for all of Arkansas- he was a natural resource. As longtime outdoor editor for the Gazette, Joe covered many controversial and often emotional issues involving the Game and Fish Commission. He had a knack for being objective and fair-presenting the facts and letting the reader make up his mind. Joe's analysis of issues was always incisive and factual.
After his time with the Gazette, Joe became a valuable asset to the Game and Fish Commission and I was blessed with his friendship.
Ollie & Lucy Hammett
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Praying for your family. May God strengthen and comfort each of you.
Ollie & Lucy Hammett
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Chris Mason
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
So sorry for the lost of Mr.Joe he was a kind and loving man.
Brice Smith
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
I'm so sorry for your loss. Joe was the hardest working retired man I ever met. I so enjoyed our visits through out the years and especially during Elk seasons. Joe Mosby RIP my friend.
Linda Baird
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
So sorry for your loss I know that he will be missed by everyone that loves him my prayers and thoughts are with all the family my god bless each and everyone of you in your time of need. I didn't know him but I'm sure that he was one of the best papa there. Was Sorry for your loss Andrea and Tim and the kids and all the family
Chris Lutes
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
When a reputation reaches the ‘last frontier’ you know it was of the highest quality. And what we Lutes’ have had the privilege of learning about Mr. Mosby or “Papa Joe”, through Jody and Kathy, is family always comes first. May your influence be forever felt on the world, through the people you impacted; and may you rest in peace.
Amy Allison Larson
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Starr, Seth,Aaron, just wanted to let you know prayers are being sent up for you three and your families! We love you guys. So so sorry!
Bob Barham
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Joe was a very kind man and he will be missed by many. My deepest sympathy to his family. Romans 8:28
Victor Allison
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
I am sorry for the loss of my kids Papa Joe. He was good man and had all my respect. My best memory of him was a deer hunting trip he come on with me and my dad to white oak mountain near Hector Arkansas. An old musty army tent we put up and a 35 gallon drum made in to wood stove. Rained the hole time and was very cold. He never complained, made us laugh and was probiely the worst camping trip he ever went on. You will be missed Mr. Joe Mosdy.
Frankie Frisco
Monday, December 7, 2015
Joe was one of my mentors fresh out of UCA in 1990. He was a valuable asset in my professional newspaper career, but he also taught me how to be a good guy and earn people's respect when I went out on the reporting assignments I was given.
Donetta King
Monday, December 7, 2015
I am so sorry for your loss. Papa Joe was a great man and will be missed by many . I enjoyed talking to him and his wife at the get togethers for b-days ball games etc . I am praying for strength for all of you
Love, Donetta and Tommy King
Patti Heath
Monday, December 7, 2015
Mary and family I was deeply sorry to hear of the loss of Joe. He has made an impact on this community to where his influence will never be forgotten because of it. I send you all my condolences and will keep you in my prayers. God Bless.
Janell Starkey
Monday, December 7, 2015
To the Starr family, I have know several family members. Am sorry for your loss. May God Bless you all.
Karen Hoskins
Monday, December 7, 2015
amy Bassett
Monday, December 7, 2015
You will be missed but never forgotten .. Sleep with the Angels Joe Mosby... I'll be seeing ya again.
wandacollins
Monday, December 7, 2015
praying f family I knew him