Robert Ralph Moody 1939-2018 GARDINER – Robert Ralph “Big Bob” Moody, 78, was born a son to Ralph Walter Moody and mother Barbara Crocker Moody on June 14, 1939, in Gardiner. Bob passed on April 27, 2018, after being hospitalized from a stroke on Dec. 21, 2017.
If you happened to live in the Gardiner community, chances are you knew Bob. Aside from living in Gardiner, he attended the schools, joined (at 15) the Gardiner Junior Fire Department, was a member of the National Guard, worked at a family gas station, was a city council man for 14 years, later a four-year member of the planning board. When approached by his neighbors and residents of Gardiner about an issue or problem around the city, he always dropped by city hall to let them know about the concerns brought to him.
His involvement with the Gardiner Fire Department was from 1954 to the late 1980s. After he turned 18, he was part of the call crew. Later, he was asked to serve as the interim fire chief beside his firefighter son, Robert “Little Bob” Moody, which he was honored to do.
While interim chief, he recognized the need for a rescue truck: Rescue 1. It was just not enough to secure the purchase of Rescue 1. Approaching the city council to negotiate the funds for educating and licensing, the full-time fireman paved the path for emergency medical services in Gardiner.
He was proud of this endeavor, and many thanked him for this outstanding achievement. It was a known fact that Robert could sit in a car, listen and diagnose what was wrong with the car. If you knew he had this gift, chances are you showed up to have him take a listen.
As family, we would often laugh, because he had a hard time hearing people talking to him, yet sitting in a car he could hear what was wrong with it. He loved the fact his son Rod got into the automotive parts business, since he could always call upon him for parts delivery. Bob would stop and pickup hitchhikers in the area, drive them where they were trying to get to, and often hand them a few dollars.
Family, friends and complete strangers loved spending their time with Big Bob. He had many names: Husband, dad, papa, son, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor. His wife and family were his life outside of work, and his community service.
Holidays always involved country music and the gathering of family and friends. His love of harness racing with his wife Grace, soon transferred to his children and grandchildren. While hospitalized, his grandson, Hunter, purchased a harness racing horse with the hope that one day his papa would be there to see Joey race.
He watched the race online from his hospital bed, and it brought a smile to his face. The importance of friends throughout his life were essential to his existence. The life he led was filled with humor, stories, selflessness, helping others and love he so freely gave.
Robert worked various jobs, such as, a mechanic/demonstrator in a boatyard; working in a family gas station; delivering milk; and as a fireman. His last employment was with the Maine Department of Transportation from which he retired. A proud moment for Bob was when Chad went to work for MDOT, and kept his dad updated about his coworkers.
Robert was predeceased by his father, Ralph Walter Moody; mother, Barbara Crocker Moody; younger sister, Gloria Moody Macshino; and baby sister, Aroline Moody. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Grace Glidden Moody. Bob leaves behind his four sons: Robert S. Moody and wife, Tammy, of Randolph (granddaughters: Melissa, Jennifer, Brooke); Chadwick M. Moody and fiancé, Melissa Joslyn Guilfoyle, of Windsor (grandsons Hunter and Gage); Roderick D. Moody and wife, Donna, of West Gardiner; Cory L. Moody, of Skowhegan (grandson, Logan Gardiner and partner, Britney Lynn; great-granddaughter, Charlotte “Baby Bear”); two daughters, Susan Moody Snell and partner, Stephen Snell, of Boothbay Harbor (granddaughters: Sally and fiancé, Jake Farrin; Casandra and fiancé, Andrew Snead; Molly and partner, Stedman Grant) (great-grandchildren: Mackenzie, Kayleigh, Madison and Elijah “Tom Thumb”, who are Sally’s children); Patty Moody-D’Angelo and husband, Ralph D’Angelo, of West Gardiner.
He also leaves behind a sister, Jeannette Moody Marshall and husband, Craig, of South Gardiner (nieces, Diane and Deborah; nephew, Craig); brother, Timothy Moody and wife, Laurie, of Pittston (nieces Alicia and Vanessa); brother-in-law’s, Calvin Moody and wife, Pearl, of St. Petersburg, Fla. (niece Cindy; nephew Calvin); Alton Ranks and wife, Rosemary, of Randolph (nieces Donna and Marla), and Elmer Maschino, of Gardiner (niece, Barbie; nephews, Ed and Eric); stepmother, Geraldine Crocker Moody, of Gardiner (stepbrothers, Bill, David and John; stepsister, Marie). There are numerous family, friends and colleagues that he felt were part of his immediate family.
Among his closest family and friends he would want recognized are: Cliff Crocker, Lorraine Ferguson, Priscilla Buckle, Dolly Lothrop, Dan Bailey and family, Jeff Temple, Shirley Hanley and the entire Hanley family. Grace and her children would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the entire Third Floor North at Togus for their professional care, kindness, and love shown to Bob while hospitalized. You all treated Bob with dignity and respect throughout his pain, dialysis, and death.
The entire family cannot express how kind and caring the medical staff was to each visitor. Molly and Ed bless you both from the Moody’s, we want to express our sincere appreciation for the outstanding care by the dialysis unit during Bob’s treatments. “God’s Garden” God looked around his garden and found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering, he knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered “Peace be thine”. It broke our hearts to lose you but you did not go alone . .
. For part of us went with you the day God called you home. On May 6, 2018 at 1 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, Highland Avenue, Gardiner, there will be a firemen’s funeral to honor Robert R. Moody.
Following the service, burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, if you choose to attend. Following the burial, Grace would like to invite everyone to a gathering being held at back at United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate, in honor of Robert R. Moody: To a veteran’s group, or a food bank, or The Firemen’s Association.
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