Harry Anthony Moos

Harry Anthony Moos passed away at the Graham County Hospital on July 28, 2024, at the age of 89.

He was born June 3, 1935, to Harry and Alice (Desbien) Moos. When he was thirteen, his sister Carol was born. Harry prided himself on the fact that he and his sister never had an argument. Eight years later, his brother Brian joined the family. Harry grew up on their family farm and experienced the hard life of a dairy farmer. He first attended a country school, then went to Sacred Heart School, and later graduated from Plainville High School.

After graduating from Fort Hays State College, he married Sharyl Belisle on August 5, 1958, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Damar. They moved to Logan, where he began his teaching career. They lived there for five years when their three children, Warren, Tanya, and Douglas, were born. Then, they moved to Ellis for three years before settling in Hill City, where they lived the rest of their lives.

Harry taught school for his entire career. He was an English teacher in addition to teaching drama and psychology. Eventually, he went back to Fort Hays State for his master’s in psychology so he could become a guidance counselor. Harry was also a woodworker and took great pride in improving his home through his personalized cupboards, shelves, and dressers among other things.

He also built trains and other wooden toys to sell at craft shows. Harry and Sharyl toured Kansas each summer to attend their favorite shows around the state, including the Walnut Bluegrass Festival in Winfield, where they spent time with their craft show friends.

In addition to his woodworking, Harry had other hobbies. He carefully researched everything he was interested in, and often wrote articles for hobby magazines about his various endeavors. He collected guns and shells, made wine, built a darkroom in the basement, and built a model train layout that took over the entire basement after retirement. He enjoyed showing the trains to his great-grandkids. Harry and Sharyl were also avid card players and talented dancers, often stealing the floor at high school dances where the students were delighted to see their “stuffy” teacher cutting a rug.

After retirement Harry spent a lot of time with his grandchildren and caring for his wife. He loved raising dogs and kept them around for companionship. He was an active Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church member, reading for services and attending Mass regularly.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, wife Sharyl, and two sons Warren and Douglas.

He is survived by his daughter Tanya Parr of Lawrence; grandchildren Paula (Jinchen) Li of Overland Park and Eric Simpson of Missoula, Montana; great-grandchildren Forrest and Estelle Li and Freyja Simpson; his sister Carol (Bob) Parker and his brother Brian (Lisa) Moos, all of Plainville.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday morning, August 2, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hill City. Burial was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Hill City.

Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary or the Graham County Ministerial Alliance and may be sent in care of Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy Ave., Hill City, KS 67642.