Mike Moody

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Michael Lee Moody age 59 from Purdum, NE passed away October 2, 2022, near Halsey, Nebraska after succumbing to a medical emergency while in the line of duty fighting fire. Services will be held Friday, October 7, 2022, at 2 pm in Dunning at the Sandhills High School. His granddaughter Rylyn requests that you please come dressed comfortably in bright colors with plaid shirts and overalls welcome. Family and friends will also be gathering after the service at the Community Hall in Dunning. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to Purdum Rural Fire or Thedford Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com.

Mike was born March 5th, 1963, to Gene and Sherry (Harsh) Moody. He attended Sandhills Public Schools and spent summers haying west of Purdum for the Bestol Ranch. He excelled at sports and enjoyed football, wrestling, and track. He did well in school but also enjoyed going out with friends and having a good time (as many of you can vouch for.) After graduating high school in 1981 he spent a year working for the Board of Educational Lands and Funds and while at that job honed his arrowhead hunting skills. From there he moved on to work for Circle 76 Fertilizer in Long Pine until his father’s death in 1984. After his father’s passing, he joined his mother and older sister Pam Moody at Purdum State Bank where he worked as Vice President and loan officer until leaving in 2008. Mike spent some time doing odd jobs before taking over Harsh Mercantile, He was very proud to be able to continue on with the family business and spent countless hours at the store and mixing feed and enjoyed working alongside his wife and son Jack.

In 1986 Mike met the love of his life Cheryl Yantzie and after writing her number down on a napkin, the rest was history. They were joined in marriage on January 6, 1988, and with this marriage, Cheryl brought with her two sons, Jeff, and Jared Pflaster. Later that year they welcomed their first child together, daughter Hollie. In 1990 after Cheryl assured him, he had plenty of time before their youngest was born Mike took off to South Dakota for a pheasant hunting trip. Not thirty minutes after he left, she went into labor and welcomed son Jack before Mike arrived the next day. His children were second only to his three grandchildren, Rylyn, Alexis, and Jhett who lovingly called him “Bampa T-Rex.”

From the time Mike was little he loved the outdoors and was always out exploring the world. He grew up hunting and fishing alongside his dad and Grandpa Dana and later in life passed that love on to his daughter Hollie. Mike always enjoyed going fishing at the lake with his close friends and took the time to go every chance he got. His other favorite thing to do was go arrowhead hunting. We never knew how he could manage to see even the smallest of artifacts, but he always seemed to find something no matter where he went. If Mike wasn’t outside doing what he loved or working, you could most likely find him at the casino playing poker or sitting at a slot machine.

Mike never knew a stranger and everyone he came across was a newfound friend. He selflessly spent his entire life putting others before himself and serving his community. He spent countless hours making sure the Purdum cemetery looked perfect year-round, all the while maintaining the rest of the town, as well as his own business work and tasks at home. For over 40 years he served the Purdum Rural Fire Department covering many different roles and his home always served as the “home base” and dispatch for the department. He never gave a second thought when a fire page went off, when a neighbor needed help, or when anything at all needed done in the community. He was always the man for job and gave himself selflessly to whoever and whatever needed his attention at any given time. He was always a listening ear and always had advice no matter what you may be going through in life. He was a loving husband, great son, a brother, a father, a friend, and an even more amazing grandpa and will be missed by many.

Left to mourn are his wife Cheryl Moody, daughter Hollie Moody, son Jack Moody, stepsons Jeff Pflaster (Danyelle) and Jared (Ashley) Pflaster, mother Sherry Mulligan, sister Pam Moody (Russ DeNaeyer), Aunt Connie (Moody)Taylor, Aunt Jeanne (Arden) Rosenberger, three grandchildren, Rylyn Moody, Jhett Moody, and Alexis Pflaster. He is also survived by many cousins and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Gene Moody, stepfather Bob Mulligan, grandparents JF & Bessie (Cox) Moody, grandparents Dana & Mern (Rodocker) Harsh, Aunt Dana Sue Harsh, and cousin Ty Milleson.