Mary Lela Foster Moss was born on October 16, 1909 in White House located near Tyler, Texas. She is the eldest of three children born to Joseph and Lela Foster. Mrs. Moss was married to Foy E. Moss and has two children, Ellen Moss Smith of Illinois and Foy (Buddy) Moss of Irving. She has three grandchildren:  Derran Smith, Jennifer Moss and Mackenzie Moss.   Some of Mrs. Moss' favorite things are reading, traveling, and helping people,  particularly shut-ins. She also attends the annual book fair held at Mary Moss Elementary. Mrs. Moss is a member of the Gaston Oaks Baptist Church in Dallas.

Following graduation from Cooper High School Mrs. Moss earned her bachelor's degree in speech and drama with an English minor in 1932 from Texas Women's University.  She earned her master's degree in administration  from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce).  

Mrs. Moss began teaching  in 1932 at Pecan Gap High School.   She married and moved to Sunnyvale in 1934, then to Mesquite in 1947.  She  taught fifth and sixth grades before being promoted to principal of Mesquite Elementary School, the only elementary school in the district at that time.   In 1953 Mrs. Moss became the first principal of the "ultra contemporary" Florence Black Elementary School.   After nearly twenty years working directly with MISD students,  she was named  language arts coordinator for the district in 1966. She retired in 1977.  

Mrs. Moss  was chosen by the school board to have a school named for her because of her exemplary dedication to the boys and girls of the Mesquite Independent School  District.