Fred Morris Moss Jr, 87, of Gastonia, N.C., passed away peacefully on December 6, 2023. Born in Gaston County and growing up in Lowell, Fred was the son of Fred Morris Moss Sr. and Margaret Talley Moss. At 14, Fred moved to Gastonia where he courted Kay Kincaid at First Presbyterian Church. After graduating from Gastonia High School, Fred went to The Citadel where he was a Summerall Guard and earned a bachelor’s degree in business.
Fred and Kay married, and he served for 6 months in the US Army and later moved to Chapel Hill. After finishing pharmacy school at UNC, Fred went to work with his father at Moss Drugs. Along with medicines, Fred dispensed understanding, support, friendly advice, and much humor. “Persevere and maintain a proper attitude” and “Be a beautiful person” are classic “Fred-isms.”
Fred enjoyed working with animals from chickens and sheep to horses and even oxen. He shared his animals at living history events at Schiele Museum, Historic Brattonsville, Old Salem as well as for live nativities and weddings. People may remember him ox driving, molasses making, flax working and even distilling!
Fred, known as Opa to his grandchildren, co-directed “Camp Opa-Oma” held at Edisto Beach and Moss Farm. As “chief counselor” he encouraged his grandchildren to explore and appreciate the joys to be discovered playing in the woods, fields and creeks as he had always done with his children and as a child himself.
Fred was active with preservation of Crowders Mountain as a NC State Park and remained a supporter of the park, serving as a founder and officer with the Friends of Crowders Mountain State Park.
Despite long hours at Moss Drugs, Fred enjoyed community involvement with Schiele Museum, Girls Scouts, First Presbyterian Church, Gaston County Board of Health, Gaston County Museum, and the Hoyle Historic Homestead.
It is hard to write about Fred’s life without mentioning his beloved horses Bill, Charlie, Buck, Firey and Snuffy; Sweetheart the goat; Oxen Cain and Able, Sam and Buster; Mephistopheles (Pheles) and Red Dog…the list goes on.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Kay Kincaid Moss; daughters, Susan Moss Krause and husband Ken, Meg Moss and her beau Michael; grandchildren, Talley Krause, Adam Sears, Mary Glenn Krause, and Thena Seer; sister, Mary Esther Toole and her children Marlie and Jamie Toole; sister-in-law Dorcas Moss and her children Melissa and Rob Moss; numerous great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Freddy Moss, his brother Bobby Moss, his brother-in-law Jimmy Toole, and his nephew Jamie Moss.
A family service is planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Friends of Crowders Mountain State Park, Schiele Museum, Gaston Hospice or a charity of your choosing.
Condolence messages may be sent online at mcleanfuneral.com. McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the Moss family.