Dr. James Marvin Moye

Dr. James Marvin Moye died on April 24, 2012 in Laurel, Mississippi. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm before the funeral service which will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church on April 27, at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel. Dr. Moye was born on February 9, 1921. He was the only son of Whiter Marvin and Frances Mason Moye. A lifelong resident of Laurel, he received his education from the Laurel City Schools in 1940. After graduating from Jones Junior College in 1942, he entered the Army Air Corp and was commissioned as a pilot in 1943. He served for 14 months as a flight instructor at Taft Air Force Base in California, he was assigned to the 451 Bomb Group flying B-24s from Italy. On Friday, October 13 at 1300 hours, he was shot down over Vienna, Austria while flying his 13th mission. Captured by the Germans, he spent the next 8 months in several prison camps, including Stalag Luft 3. After 2 failed attempts, he finally made good on his third escape and returned to the Allies just prior to V-E Day. Dr. Moye married his childhood sweetheart, Mae Eleanor Freeman in 1942. After discharge from the service, he enrolled in the Southern College of Optometry graduating in 1947. Dr. and Mrs. Moye returned to Laurel where he began his optometric practice. He practiced until his 80th birthday in 2001. Active in several optometric organizations both in the State of Mississippi and Nationally, Dr. Moye served in many capacities. He was President of the MS Optometric Association for 2 years. He was on the Board of Directors for the MS Optometric Foundation, Member of the Board of Examiners, and served on the Board of the Southwest Contact Lens Society. He was both Chairman and Member of the American Optometric Association Practice Administration Committee for many years and worked on the American Optometric Association Interprofessional Relations Committee. He was a Member of the Board of the Foundation for Education and Research in Vision and the Advisory Committee on Health for the Department HEW for the Southern Region of the U.S. As a charter member of the American Optometric Association’s Political Action Committee, he chaired the first fundraising event held in MS. The American Optometric Association named him Key Man of the Year. Dr. Moye also served the State of Mississippi as a member of the Board for Health. Determined to thank the Red Cross for their help when he was in prison camp, Dr. Moye served as a Board Member and Chairman of the Red Cross of Jones County. He worked with the Jones county group continually for over 50 years. Dr. Moye also served on the Southeast Advisory Council of the American Red Cross. Working tirelessly for his hometown of Laurel and the surrounding community, Dr. Moye was a member of the School Board for the Laurel City Schools. He also served as President of the Laurel Jaycees and was honored to receive their Man of the Year Award. Dr. Moye was also a member of the Laurel Community Concert Association, past member of the Laurel Lions Club, Board Member of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce, United Way and Co-Chaired the Building Fund for the Laurel Little Theatre. He was an active member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. In 1982, Dr. Moye was named King of the Laurel Junior Auxiliary’s Golden Jubilee Charity Ball. He also gave of his time as a member of the Advisory Committee of the School of Business at the University of Southern Mississippi. A member of the Republican Party for 60 years, Dr. Moye has been recognized as one of the founding fathers of the Mississippi Republican Party serving on the State Executive Committee; vice-chairman of the Mississippi GOP; Chairman of the 5th Congressional District; Delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1964, 1968 and 1980 and an alternate delegate to 2 conventions. He also served as a Republican National Committeeman and a member of the National Republican Executive Committee. He was Chairman of the State Steering Committee for Reagan for President. Dr. Moye was a devout Christian and was active in the Presbyterian Church. He was a charter member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and later Covenant Presbyterian Church. He served as an Elder in both churches and taught Sunday School continually for over 60 years. Dr. Moye was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Feriba Brown. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mae Eleanor Freeman Moye; two daughters and two sons-in-law: Marilyn and Joel Thoms of Petal and Jamie and Brad Farber of St. Peters, Missouri; three sisters, Frances Moye of Biloxi, Margaret Anderson of Louisville, Kentucky; and Sue Lightsey (Bill) of Laurel; 6 grandchildren, Marcy Moye Thoms Scoggins, Joel Thoms, Jr., Kirk Thoms, Stephanie Farber Dunn, Christopher Farber and David Farber; and 7 great grandchildren, Kathryn and Will Scoggins; Trey, Claire and Bo Thoms; and Palmer and Taylor Dunn; and a host of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, the Mississippi Republican Party or the American Red Cross. Memory Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Dr. James Marvin Moye

February 9, 1921 - April 24, 2012