Dr. Caryl Towsley Moy

Dr. Caryl Towsley Moy, 78, of Springfield, IL, passed away at 1:54 p.m. on Friday, October 29, 2010 at Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Moy was born September 10, 1932 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Myron and Genevieve Brayton Towsley. She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Henry Moy, in Naperville on August 21, 1954. Dr. Moy graduated as an outstanding student from Naperville Central High School in 1950. In 1999, both she and her husband were named distinguished alums by the high school. She received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education from the University of Illinois in 1954. She was selected to several University honoraries, including Mortar Board, Omicron Nu and Pi Kappa Alpha. She received a Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago in 1969. She received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1980. Dr. Moy's post-doctoral work was in Family Therapy Supervision at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Moy's career path began in the Home Economics Department at Evergreen Park Community High School, where she was an instructor and chairperson from 1954-1958 and 1961-1968. She moved to Springfield with her husband in 1969 and began her career in higher education as an instructor and college counselor at Lincoln Land Community College. In 1972, Dr. Moy was recruited to serve as Associate Professor of Sociology and University Counselor at Sangamon State University, now the University of Illinois at Springfield. She became a full professor in 1985. She was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1993. In addition to her work at Sangamon State, Dr. Moy had her own private practice in marital and sexual therapy. She also was Clinical Professor in the Departments of Family Practice and Psychiatry at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. In 1988, she was named Adjunct Professor at Sun Yat Sen University in Guangzho, China. In addition to a rewarding career in education, Dr. Moy also authored the textbook "Communication Basics for Human Service Professionals" and a biography of her mother, "Naperville's Genevieve, A Daughter's Memoir." Dr. Moy had numerous memberships in professional organizations as well as certifications in a variety of family welfare endeavors. She was the founding president of Planned Parenthood-Springfield Area. She was a member of PEO, Chapter BF, Treasure Seekers Questers, Red Hatitudes, 4-H House Association and Lincoln Land 56ers. In 2000, she was one of the women selected by the YWCA as a Woman of Excellence. In 2007, she was named by a panel of local historians as one of twelve women who "made a difference in Springfield." She was also a member and an elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Dr. Moy will be remembered as an outstanding and beloved teacher for her work in education and women's issues. Her interest in the writings of Charles Dickens inspired her to chair a local committee to bring the author's great great-grandson, actor Gerald Dickens, to Springfield to perform "A Christmas Carol" to benefit local libraries. She collected Dickens memorabilia and Dickens Village collectables. She and her husband held frequent benefit open houses for others to view their unusual collections. She is preceded in death by her parents and half-sister, Betty Towsley Bernardin. She is survived by her husband, Richard; two sons, Philip (Laurie Liebhart) Moy of Two Rivers, Wisconsin and Eric (Jennifer Davis) Moy, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and two grandchildren, Benjamin Henry and Lyndsay Lillian Moy. A private family gathering and graveside ceremony will be held. A memorial ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield with Dr. Lonnie H. Lee officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard H. Moy Endowment for Education, SIU Foundation at the School of Medicine, Mail Code 9666, 927 N. Rutledge, Springfield, IL 62794; Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, IL 62704; University of Illinois Springfield, One University Plaza, Springfield, IL 62703; or the Illinois 4-H House Association, c/o Teri Travis, 2061 CR 2400 N, Thomasboro, IL, 61878.