Jewel Moody

Published 11:47 am Friday, April 22, 2016

Jewel Moody, 86, of Fairhope, Ala., passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2016.

Jewel was born in Bogalusa on April 25, 1929. He married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Henderson Moody, also of Bogalusa. Jackie passed away on Nov. 8, 2014. Jewel and Jackie were married 68 years.

Jewel graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor’s degree in physics. At age 21, Jewel joined Wernher Von Braun’s team in Huntsville, Ala., in 1952. He was involved in the Redstone, Jupiter, Saturn 1B and Saturn V programs, and was in charge of the flight models of the Lunar Rover which first landed on the moon in 1969.

Jewel retired from NASA in 1985, and became program manager for Calspan Corporation, managing contracts with NASA in Huntsville.

Jewel is survived by his children, Diane (David) Daniell of Fairhope, Drusilla Moody of Decatur, Ga., and Warren (Cecily) Moody of Huntsville; his brothers, Steve Moody and Michael Moody of Bogalusa; his five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A private family memorial service will be held for Jewel at the First Baptist Church in Bogalusa on Saturday, April 23. Expressions of condolence may be offered at www.hughesfh.com.

Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home in Daphne, Ala.