Johnnie Gail Moody, 79, of Holts Summit, passed away Monday, August 21, 2023, at his residence.

He was born on December 19, 1943, in Texarkana, Texas, the son of George Thomas and Kathryn Frances (Cornelius) Moody.

He was married on July 19, 1966, in England to Jean Margaret Parker who preceded him in death on April 28, 2006.

Johnnie was retired from the United States Air Force as an aircraft safety specialist. Later, he worked for the United States Government Bureau of Land Management in Winnemucca, Nevada. He gave forty-four years of service to his country and was proud every day. His career allowed him to see service in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, Germany, England, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and a few stateside bases.

Johnnie was an outdoors person and enjoyed fishing, camping, riding ATVs, and going to the gun range to target practice with his friends. He liked to make jewelry for his wife and collect watches. He was captivated doing family genealogy research on his computer. He dearly loved watching and playing with his grandchildren, especially when they had a water hose.

His claim to fame happened just a week before he died at his favorite restaurant, Oscar’s Classic Diner. Not knowing they were filming a commercial, he had stopped in for a late lunch. They invited him to sit in the first booth to be part of the crowd. It was the highlight of his last days knowing that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren would see him in a commercial after he was gone.  At long last, Johnnie Gail was a movie star!

Johnnie was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a federally licensed Amateur Radio operator holding a General Class license and call sign N(zero)JGM. He was a member of the Mid-Mo Amateur Radio Club in Jefferson City.

Survivors include a daughter, Tina Orr, Holts Summit; daughter-in-law, Melissa Moody, Chicago; two grandchildren, Chelsea (Stephen) Dyson and Devon Orr; three great-grandchildren, Gatlin Dyson, Rayleigh Dyson, and Charlotte Dyson; niece, Emily Wagner; and cousins, Gail Cornelius, Carolyn Cornelius, Mark Cornelius, Jim Cornelius, Joy Chartrau, Tina Galluzzo, and Connie Blanner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a son, Michael Moody, and a brother, Thomas Moody.

Burial with Military Honors was held on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Fort Leonard Wood State Veteran Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com