Taylor by looking

Shirley Ragene Moss was born April 28, 1929, in Foss, Oklahoma. He grew up on a cotton farm and graduated from East Central State University in Ada, Oklahoma, where he worked his way through college at a funeral home.

After college, S.R. served as a lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War and worked in accounting at Conoco Oil, initially in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and then in Houston.

He married Carolyn Joyce Parks in 1952, and together, they had three sons.

When Conoco told S.R. he would be transferred to New York City, he said, “New York City? I’m not gonna raise three kids in New York City. Enough!”

In 1966, the family moved to Taylor after purchasing Whites Home & Auto in downtown at the Houston Chronicle classifieds. In 1996, he built a larger store to better serve his customers and changed the name to Moss True Value.

S.R. was known as a caring, patient, giving and quiet man. He ran his business with the motto, “The customer is always right.”

Locally, he was involved in Kiwanis International and was a member of the Taylor Independent School District board, First United Methodist Church in Taylor and St. Peter’s Church of Coupland.

Survivors include his companion Hermania Vitek of Taylor; sons Mike (Leslie) of Lubbock, Brad (Belinda) of Taylor, and Doug (Dai) of Austin; grandchildren Kirk (Ashley), Amanda (Jason) and Megan; and three great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Carolyn, and grandson Chad.

Services are 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Condra Funeral Home, 503 Talbot St. in Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, make any contributions to St. Peter’s Church of Coupland.