 | Jean Bell Mosley was born on September 21, 1913, in Elvins, MO. She graduated valedictorian of Doe Run High School in 1931 and
then went on to Flat River Junior College (now Mineral Area Community College) where she received an associate’s degree in education and was also valedictorian.
Mosely married Edward P. Mosley in 1936, and they had one son. In 1937, she graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in education. Her first story was published in 1947 in Woman’s Day Magazine, which would earn her an invitation to the Cape Girardeau Writers Guild. Mosely later became president of the Cape Girardeau Writers Guild and served as guild president three times between 1949-1968. Mosley published her first book, The Mockingbird Piano, in 1953 and won the Missouri Writer’s Guild annual award. The novel revolves around Mosley’s experiences growing up on a farm in rural Missouri, which was the topic of many of her writings. She would publish hundreds of works throughout her life which included six books. Her 1985 children’s book ,The Deep Forest Award, won her the C.S. Lewis Silver Medal. She also won the SEMO Alumni Merit award and numerous other awards. Throughout her life she an active member of her church as well as being involved in the Quest Club, a women’s club in Cape Girardeau. She was a syndicated columnist 1957 until her death on July, 11 2003, in Cape Girardeau, MO. |
| The following books by Jean Bell Mosley are available for check out in Kent Library (click link for catalog record): |
| And God Answered : a Memoir |
| The Crosses at Zarin |
| The Mockingbird Piano |
| Wide Meadows |
| The following book by Jean Bell Mosley is available for study in Special Collections and Archives (click link for catalog record): |
| The Deep Forest Award |