The Rev. Udell Moss Passes Away at 86

The Rev. Udell Moss, who founded the as well as the Ferguson Church of the Nazarene, passed away on Thursday. He was 86.

“It is with sad and yet glad hearts we announce the ‘Heaven Homegoing’ of Pastor Udell Moss,” North County Christian School Debbie Dykhouse wrote on the school’s website.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Moss found his calling early at the age of 7 and never deviated from his journey to become a preacher, according to his obituary.

After serving in the army, he attended the Olivet Nazarene College, where he also met his future wife, Doris. They were married in 1947.

Three years later, the Rev. Moss received an opportunity to start a church in Ferguson. After searching his heart and soul, he built the church and preached to its congregation for the next 31 years.

During those years, Moss and his wife Doris founded North County Christian School.

“Pastor Moss was well known for his inventiveness, enthusiasm, encouragement, and fun-loving spirit,” Dykhouse wrote. “He was a strong supporter of North County Christian School, loving God, loving children, and finding many ways he could meet the spiritual and physical needs of NCCS families.”

Two of the Rev. Moss’s children, Wayne Moss and Sheryl Dampf, currently work at North County Christian School.

He leaves behind his wife Doris of 63 years, four children, Wayne, Sheryl, Sharon Bushey and Sharlene Valdez, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Services for the Rev. Moss were held Monday, July 18 at 9:30 a.m. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be sent to the Rev. and Mrs. Udell Moss NCCS Fund in care of North County Christian School, 845 Dunn Rd., Florissant, MO 63031.