Moss memorialized

The trustees of the Finis M. Moss Charitable Trust have placed a life-sized statue of Finis M. Moss, the Trust's founder, in front of the Nevada Public Library, 218 W. Walnut, Nevada. "We wanted to commemorate the life of the man whose gift to the community has benefited all of us," said Donald B. Russell, trustee, "and also honor the service of long-time Trustee, Robert G. Lasley, whose commitment to the Moss Trust and dedication to Vernon County was exemplary and is sorely missed." When Mark Baldwin of Brophy Monument Co., Nevada, finished installing the statue this week, he completed a project begun by Robert G. Lasley in 2002. "Bob had told us that he would be retiring from the Trust due to poor health," Lee Gilbert remembers, "and he said that he never wanted Vernon Countians to forget who Finis Moss was and what he looked liked. Bob proposed a statue as a permanent commemoration, and we agreed. We're just saddened that Bob did not live to see the project completed. In finishing the job he began, we hope to make Finis Moss a familiar face as well as name for all future Vernon Countians as Bob wished and also to show our appreciation for Bob's 19 years of service to the Moss Trust." Finis M. Moss was born in 1905, to Charles M. and Mattie Ewing Moss. He married Loretta Neas in 1953, and she predeceased him in 1974. The couple had no children. Mr. Moss established the Finis M. Moss Charitable Trust on April 1, 1975, and served as a Trustee until 1984. When Mr. Moss died in 1985, he left a gift of $5,000,000, to the management of three trustees: Donald B. Russell, Lee Gilbert, and Robert G. Lasley. Since 1985, the Trust has given more than $5 million to worthy causes in the Vernon County area, while increasing the original gift by $2 million. The trustees hope that the community will take a minute to view the statue and join them in commemorating the life of Finis M. Moss, his generous gift to the citizens of this area, and the service of Lasley.