Gloria Jean (Gray) Moon

Gloria Jean Moon of Schoolcraft, Michigan, went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 23, 2024, at the age of 77. Gloria was born in Springfield, Missouri, on February 10, 1947, to the late George and Patsy (Simmons) Gray. In 1975, Gloria married Richard “Dick” Moon. The two were married for 49 years. 

Gloria is survived by her beloved husband, Dick, and her four sons and daughters-in-law, Rick (Tina) Moon of Florida, Rob (Tracy) Moon of Florida, Rollie (Jenni) Moon of Florida, and Tony (Becky) Moon of Portage, Michigan. She is also survived by her brother, Mike Gray (Paula), sister, Marsha Overholser, and her stepmother, Barbara Gray, all of Ash Grove, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Janet Moon, Mary Conley, and Lynn Mohler (Conley). Gloria also has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Gloria graduated from Ash Grove High School in 1965 with honors. After two years of classes at Southwest Missouri State University, she began a 30-year career in the sales and telecommunication industry. Gloria started as a telephone operator at Southwestern Bell in Springfield, Missouri. She was soon promoted to the secretary of the vice president of Southwestern Bell. After marrying Richard, she moved to Michigan and secured a job at Custom Communication as their Sales Manager. After eight years of working there, she was sought out to be the General Manager of Operations for Cellular One in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek area. Gloria was instrumental in building and managing one of the first cellular networks in Kalamazoo County. Eventually, she became the Regional Corporate Accounts and Public Relations Manager for Century Cellunet. After leaving Century Cellunet, she began her own consulting and public relations firm. Gloria was a Kalamazoo Rotarian and a 3-year President and board member of the Kalamazoo Management Association. She completed many Dale Carnegie courses and conducted numerous training seminars for communications for Michigan Associated Radio Services and the Telephone Answering Service Association of Michigan and Florida.

Gloria was a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ. She was a woman of deep faith, a strong prayer warrior, and an evangelist. She was led to the lord at age 8 by her grandfather, Alva Gray, and she was baptized in Scott Springs surrounded by her family. Gloria was one of the first people in the nation to have open heart surgery when she was sixteen years old. She defied the medical odds to give birth to a son and lived for 77 years due to a deep faith in the power of God. Gloria was an accomplished pianist. She started playing in her childhood and it was her passion to play the Piano for her Lord and Savior. She has played for numerous churches throughout her life, along with musicals, and retirement homes. She would share her love for Jesus and the Gospel with everyone she interacted with and was a member of Kalamazoo First Assembly. Gloria had many favorite pastimes. She loved to travel and go on fishing adventures with her husband, Richard, and it gave her great joy to cook for family and friends. 

Following Gloria’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and a celebration of her life will be held at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 on Saturday, September 14th. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and a Memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Gloria will be laid to rest at the Schoolcraft Cemetery following the service surrounded by immediate family. 

Memorial contributions may be made in Gloria’s honor to Kalamazoo First Assembly of God or Evangel University. To leave an online condolence, visit https://www.langelands.com.