Steven Moody

It is with great sadness that the family of Steven Wayne Moody announce his passing on January 1, 2022, after a brief illness. Steve was born in September 1952 in Denison, Texas to Mary Elizabeth (Goolsby) Moody and John Kenneth Moody.

Steve grew up in Calera, Okla. and lived there the first 19 years of his life. He graduated from Calera High School in May 1970. He attended Eastern Oklahoma State College for one year and then joined the US Army in August 1971. After basic training and AIT training, he received military orders for SHAPE, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, a part of NATO, located in Belgium. While at SHAPE, Steve attained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and subsequently, the MBA degree from Boston University.

In December 1978, he returned to Durant where he was invited to become a faculty member in the Department of Business and Management at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He held this position for 15 years before transferring to the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, also located on Southeastern’ s campus. He was employed with the OSBDC until his retirement from Southeastern in 2000.

During his tenure as a Business and Management faculty, he received several awards and recognitions. He was honored with being named Kiwanian of the Year, Young Jaycees Faculty of the year, and the Alpha Signa Tau Faculty on Campus award. He sponsored the Key Club for high school students as well as Southeastern’s Management and Marketing Club for university business majors for many years.

After 21 years of military service, Steve retired from the military in January 2000. He had an outstanding military career, receiving the United State Joint Services Commendation Medal presented by General Alexander Haig, Supreme Commander at SHAPE.

Upon returning to the States with his wife, Deanna, they had three boys – Matthew, Mark, and Jeffrey. Steve loved being out in nature and enjoyed walking, hiking, and looking for old fossils and artifacts at Lake Texoma with his boys. He was an avid coin collector and spent many Saturdays with his boys searching antique shops searching for military items, comic books, and other memorabilia. Steve was a caring and charismatic individual that was loved by many.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother and father; his son, Mark; sisters, Peggy and Glenda and brother, Dale.

He is survived by his son, Matthew and wife Elizabeth, and his son, Jeffrey. He is also survived by his sister, Leta Whitaker and husband, Charlie, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many cousins.

There will be a memorial service honoring Steve’s life at 2 p.m., Jan. 8, 2022. The service will be held at the Chapel at the Highland Cemetery in Durant, Okla. The family will receive friends during this time that would like to offer their condolences.

Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.