Louise Andrews Moss

Louise, known affectionally as “Lola” or “Louisa,” was born in Houston on the 6th of February 1960, to Linda Kay Andrews and Edward H. Andrews, Jr. She attended the House at Pooh Corner, which all three of her children later attended and fondly remember. From elementary school to high school, Louise attended boarding school in Switzerland, St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston, and Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. Louise went on to graduate in 1982 from Vanderbilt University, where she excelled in French and International Studies.

Soon after graduating, Louise and her best friend Dabney Cubbage drove up to Aspen, Colorado for what they had planned would be a year-long “ski bunny” stint. Louise fell in love with Aspen and spent seven years there, which remained some of the most cherished of her life. Upon her return to Houston, she obtained a Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Houston. She became a licensed professional counselor and volunteered with the emergency domestic violence program of the Houston Area Women's Center.

In 1990, Louise married Gary P. Moss, an entrepreneur who founded Moss Landscaping. Gary and Louise were childhood friends through their older brothers, Edward and Chad. Gary was the love of her life, and Louise was immensely proud of their thirty-four-year marriage. They had three children, Christina, Nicholas, and Carolina. Louise’s deepest and most profound desire was to have a strong family and a warm home; she often remarked that her family was her greatest achievement. Louise loved her family more than anything.

Louise was a beautiful, engaging person, with a huge heart. A great friend to so many, she was frank and approachable. She brought an air of kindness and open-mindedness with her wherever she went. She welcomed everyone into an event as if they were old friends. Louise’s network of close friends was large and dynamic, and she modeled the importance of friendship to her children. One of the greatest gifts she gave her children were the many trusted adults in their lives whom they could turn to, whom they have relied on throughout their lives and will continue to cherish during this difficult time.

She maintained a youthful enthusiasm for learning and traveling her entire life. Louise ardently encouraged her children to explore the world and create their own paths to happiness. It was immensely important to Louise that she give her children a magical and protected childhood filled with love and laughter. Louise’s patience and imagination saturated her children’s childhoods. They have wonderful memories of the countless hours Louise spent sitting on the floor playing with toys, dancing to music around the house, and reading books on beanbag chairs in nearby Looscan Neighborhood Library.

One of Louise’s signature qualities was her joviality. She never missed an opportunity to imbue an occasion with festivity and loved to celebrate all holidays. Louise snuck into her children’s rooms in the early hours of their birthdays to decorate before they awoke. Louise especially loved Christmas. She was the “Chief Elf,” and took great pride and joy in decorating the many Christmas trees in her home each season. She looked forward to Christmas all year; her favorite pastime was wrapping presents with her family while listening to Christmas music. Louise was the ultimate hostess. Parties at the Moss home were renowned and eagerly anticipated every year. Louise is undoubtedly in heaven with her best friend, John P. Lykos, planning amazing parties for the other angels.

Louise was athletic and loved tennis, skiing, and golf. She also loved to spend hours playing backgammon and gin rummy with Gary, and she would frequently organize game nights with her girlfriends. She was a voracious reader and read anything from historical fiction, to memoirs, to spicy paper backs. She was passionate about literacy and served with Gary on the board of CYCLE, a children's charity focused on encouraging 2nd grade literacy. Louise also shared a deep love of pop and rock music with Gary, which they passed on to their children. Just a few years ago, Louise and Gary took their children to an Elton John concert, where they all donned sparkly sunglasses and feather boas. Louise was a fabulous fashion consultant to her family and friends, always emphasizing the difference between true personal style and simply being “on trend.”

Louise also had a deep appreciation for and connection with nature. Her imprint will always be felt most in the places she loved, particularly in the beautiful landscape of Aspen, where she spent many years of her youth and where she returned with her beloved family and friends every summer. She was happiest there enjoying the crisp air and beautiful vistas. Her love for nature included animals of all kinds, but particularly extended to cats. She rescued many, including her dear Fluffy, who is with her now in Heaven. Her other beloved pets were Tiger, Lilly, Puss, Boots, Chica, Felix, and her newest kitten, Binx. She passed along this compassion all living things to all three of her children who will remember her every time they cuddle the family’s cats.

An essential part of Louise’s soul was her internal calling to support and educate others. She was a profoundly sympathetic and sensitive person who deeply felt for others. This came to light early in her purposeful commitment and generosity to many non-profit organizations, including the SPCA, Houston Area Women’s Center, and Planned Parenthood, to name a few. Louise’s commitment to education was evidenced further by her generous support to the educational and spiritual community of Annunciation Orthodox School, where her and Gary’s three children spent their Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School years.

Louise was a member of River Oaks Country Club in Houston and The Argyle in San Antonio. She was a debutante in the Allegro Ball in Houston and the International Debutante Ball in New York City, as well as an Out-of-Town Duchess in the Order of the Alamo’s Fiesta Court of Never Neverland in San Antonio.

Louise would readily admit that she was not the most domestic of women, but she had the foresight and humility to fill her home with wonderful people who could excel in the household tasks she didn’t. Her family would like to thank Hannia Alvarado, Hattie Carothers, Ana Baires, Sherrie Gibson, and Kristina Peters for their many years of service.

Louise is survived by her devoted husband Gary P. Moss, their children Anna Christina, Nicholas Madigin, and Carolina Camille, sister Nina K. Andrews, her children Isabel Karohl and Christopher Karohl, and brother Edward H. Andrews, III. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Chad Moss and wife Melissa, their children Reed Moss and Chadwick Moss, and brother-in-law John Eric Moss and his son Alexander Moss, as well as her beloved mother-in-law Stacey Moss, whom she truly regarded as a second mother.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family during a visitation at ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 27th of September 2024, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd, Houston, TX, 77006, with the funeral service commencing at eleven o’clock in the morning, with the Cathedral Clergy officiating.

Immediately following, all are invited to celebrate Louise’s life during a Makaria luncheon in the adjacent S. P. Martel Hall.

Interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Houston Area Women’s Center, Planned Parenthood, Houston SPCA, Annunciation Orthodox School, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, CYCLE Houston, or a charity of your choice.