After a life of love and quiet grace, Frances Kay Moss of Leesville, LA has passed.
Below, the family shares some of what made her life meaningful.
Frances held deeply to the Catholic faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Those who live by belief leave a different kind of mark.
Born on November 14, 1936, Frances Kay Harding Moss of Leesville, Louisiana, passed from this life to her heavenly home on May 4, 2026; she was 89. A wake for Frances will be held Friday, May 8th at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Leesville, Louisiana from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 12:15 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Adam Travis at 1:00 p.m. Following the Mass, burial will be at Cooper Baptist Church Cemetery in Pickering, Louisiana, under the direction of Jeane's Funeral Service.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, Robert H. Moss; her mother, Mary Louvina Leone Harding and stepfather, Jack Harding; her father, Ralph Jones; her sister, Mary Nell "Tootsie" Harding; her brothers, Joseph "Buddy" Leone, Herbert Ronnie Harding, and Garland Dean Harding; her daughter-in-love, Fusita Moss; and an infant son, Robert Steven Moss.
She spent her childhood and adolescence in the countryside of Zwolle and Mansfield, Louisiana, growing up with her first best friends – her many cousins. After moving to Leesville the summer before her junior year of high school to live with her Aunt Irma and Uncle Marvin Jacobs and cousins Shirley and Pat, she became a Leesville High School Wampus Cat. Active in multiple clubs and activities, Frances especially enjoyed being a majorette and a forward on the basketball team. She taught twirling lessons to numerous young girls for many years. After graduation in 1954, Frances trained to be a nurse's aide at Schumpert Hospital in Shreveport, where she held her first job. In September, she and Robert began their marriage journey together and soon after started their family. Always dreaming of being a wife and mother, Frances thrived as both – devoting herself to nurturing their home into a place filled with comfort, laughter, and unconditional love.
In 1966, Robert became the Executive Director of the Louisiana Lions Camp for Crippled Children and moved the family on the campgrounds. Frances faithfully supported him as he navigated the challenges of running a summer camp program. She attended and participated in LC camping activities, which developed into close, long-lasting relationships with the camp staff and campers. Truly, Frances epitomized the meaning of "LC Love". Being at Lions Camp nurtured her heart for disabled children and motivated her to begin a career with the Vernon Parish School Board as a para-professional in the Special Education Department where she served for twenty-three years until her retirement in 2003.
Throughout her entire life, Frances was a woman of great faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ. A life-long member of the Catholic Church, she faithfully served the Lord at St. Joseph's and St. Michael's communities in multiple capacities. She was a Lay Minister of the Eucharist, a Lector at Mass, a CCD teacher, and a member of the Ladies Circle and Parish Council. Frances loved the youth ministry at St. Michael's and helped develop the tradition of bringing them to attend Steubenville South where she served on the prayer team for many years. With a humble heart, she worshipped the Lord, and in her final months, she genuinely missed regularly being with her church family. However, because of her dear friend and care giver Susan Pilley, she was able to receive Holy Communion in her home every Sunday; we are forever grateful for this blessing.
Her other interests and hobbies included tending to flowers and plants – Lowe's garden center was a favorite hang-out. She enjoyed sewing and was an excellent seamstress as evidenced by all the prom and pageant dresses and costumes she sewed. She loved to read and could spend hours in a bookstore. Frances enjoyed camping and traveling on cruises and other road trips. An adventure to Rome and the Vatican with a group from St. Michael's was especially memorable. Perhaps being Mee Mee was her most cherished title; attending and cheering at her grandchildren's sporting events, dance recitals, musical productions, and much more brought her tremendous joy.
Being abundantly blessed with family and friends, Frances strived to grow as a disciple of Christ and to live the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Quick to seek and give forgiveness and a listening ear, she lived a full and wonderful life and will be deeply missed by us all.
Those left to cherish her memory and carry her legacy are her children, Vicky Dowden (Dan), Cindy Dowden (Steve), Sherry Miller (Benny), Kelli Strickland (Kenny), Steven Moss (Alice), Mark Le Moss, and her sister, Pamela Marie Harding, along with fifteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be Marc Dowden, James Strickland, Adam Dowden, Douglas Dowden, Chad Dowden, Matthew Moss, Benny Miller III, and Ray Cecil. The honorary pallbearers will be Dan Dowden, Steve Dowden, Benny Miller Jr., Kenny Strickland, Kenneth Magee, and Jared Strickland.
The family wishes to sincerely thank the administration and employees of Allegiance Hospice Care and Vernon Home Health in Leesville for their professional and compassionate care of our beloved mother.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Louisiana Lions League, Inc., 292 L. Beauford Drive, Anacoco, Louisiana, 71403, or St. Michael's Catholic Church, 604 South Fifth Street, Leesville, Louisiana, 71446, are deeply appreciated.
