Juanita Vernel Mosley
October 9, 1928 – April 4, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 2025 @ 11:00 a.m.
Daniel & Son Funeral Home Chapel
401 West 18th Street | Bryan, Texas 77803
Reverend Norris D. Jackson, Eulogist/Officiating
Live Streaming: https://www.facebook.com/share/14hjgiuUeF/
Juanita Vernell Mosley, 96 was born October 9, 1928 to Mike and Odies. Bowser in Caldwell, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mike Bowser and Odies Early Bowser, her spouse, Lon Wiggins Mosley, and six brothers and sisters. Juanita V. Bowser graduated from Fairview High School in Bryan, Texas. She attended Texas College where she was a majorette in the “Steeretts” precision marching and performing group. At Texas College, Juanita met and married Lon Wiggins Mosley.
After she graduated, Juanita continued her passion for precision majorette performance groups in her first teaching position in West Texas. I traveled to a football game in New Mexico with her where her precision majorettes performed and I was a mascot dressed like the majorettes. When Juanita began teaching in the Dallas Independent School District, she organized the “Lionettes” precision majorettes at Sarah Zumwalt Junior High School. The “Lionettes” were legendary and many parents contacted Juanita because they wanted their daughters to be members of this group. While teaching at Sarah Zumwalt, Juanita earned a Master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University. An important part of Juanita’s legacy was her dedication to higher education. She was very proud of the fact that a daughter and granddaughter followed in her footsteps and earned degrees from Texas Woman’s University. She was also very proud of the fact that all four of her children were college graduates.
Her grandchildren and great grandchildren are also taking part in her legacy in the pursuit of higher education. Juanita was also a scientist. She taught Life Sciences, and her classroom was a living laboratory where students observed and cared for a number of animals. Her students learned that the animals responded to the way they were treated. Juanita retired from the Dallas Independent School District in 1988, after the death of her beloved husband. She returned to her home in Bryan, Texas where she lived a life of leisure for the next 37 years. After retirement, Juanita participated in the Senior Olympics where she excelled in Shot Put and Discus. She traveled to many Senior Olympic competitions and won several gold medals in these sports. Juanita was well known on the winner’s podium and was respected by her teammates and opponents alike. Juanita has a grandson and great granddaughter who have followed in her footsteps and have become very successful competitive athletes. In retirement, Juanita spent her time gardening and continued her interest in life sciences. She experimented with tomato plants by feeding them milk. This process produced an abundance of delicious tomatoes. Juanita also spent her retirement with several beloved pets, watching sports, and enjoying time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Juanita also enjoyed spending time and talking with her many nieces and nephews. She was the youngest of seven children and was the last remaining A Celebration of Life for Juanita V. Mosley aunt of the children of her sisters and brothers. She always looked forward to their visits and hearing about their families. Juanita was an avid reader her entire life until her death. I loved discussing current events with her and new ideas and interpretations. Her wisdom was phenomenal and you could always learn something new when you talked with her. Juanita
will be sorely missed by the many people who loved her. She leaves to cherish her memory, two sons and two daughters, Lon Morris Mosley, Mark Anthony Mosley, Erma Dianne Mosley and Deborah Vongerichten; five grandchildren, Jason Spencer Lewiss, Amber Lewis-Bowerman, Nicolette Ikuyo Mosley, Colin Axcel Mosley, and Micah Lon Mosley; two great- grandchildren, Ava Bowerman and Alyssa Bowerman; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Rest in peace beloved Mother. You lived a remarkable life and have earned your place in heaven. May God bless your eternal soul.