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Recounting how people often asked Moss if she was still painting, Becky Ghezzi said that her mother always answered, 鈥淲ell, why wouldn鈥檛 I be?鈥�

Moss, a Blacksburg resident known to friends as 鈥淧at,鈥� died Saturday at age 91 in Mathews, the home of another of her daughters.

Her death came days after the discovery of a suspected glioblastoma, or brain tumor, Ghezzi said.

Plans for memorial services still are being worked out and will be announced on Moss鈥� business websites and social media pages, her daughter said.

A native of New York City, Moss famously turned to painting after dyslexia 鈥� little recognized then 鈥� impaired her school work and led one teacher to label her as 鈥渘ot proficient in anything.鈥� Trained at a city arts high school, then at Cooper Union, Moss focused on fine arts and graphic design.

Starting in the 1960s, soon after moving to Waynesboro with her first husband and five children 鈥� with a sixth on the way 鈥� Moss built a commercial and philanthropic behemoth with determinedly upbeat paintings of landscapes and animals, and stylized depictions of Mennonite and Amish life.

Moss eventually created more than 100,000 images 鈥� 鈥渢hat鈥檚 only the ones we鈥檝e cataloged,鈥� Ghezzi said 鈥� and kept her work approachable and always positive. Ghezzi described her mother鈥檚 attitude as, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need more chaos, there鈥檚 enough of that going on in the world.鈥�

Wendy Nester, manager of the Moss Gallery in Blacksburg, described Moss鈥� art as 鈥渨himsical and light and easy for people to understand. 鈥� You never had a dark feeling when you saw these pieces. 鈥� They just made you feel glad.鈥�

In the 1980s, Charles Kuralt dubbed Moss 鈥渢he people鈥檚 artist,鈥� a description that joined a long list of awards and honors in her official biography.

Today, Moss鈥� paintings, prints and other merchandise are sold by about 79 authorized dealers across the country, including galleries in Blacksburg and Waynesboro that are dedicated to her work, according to her company鈥檚 website. The P. Buckley Moss Society, founded in 1987, has 26 chapters and about 13,000 members, a biography statement said.

Her P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children鈥檚 Education, funded by donations and limited-edition artworks that Moss created, awards scholarships to students with learning differences who are seeking higher education and grants to arts teachers to help buy supplies.

In 2013, Virginia Tech named its Moss Arts Center after the artist in recognition of her $10 million donation to the university.

One of her final paintings, finished this year and titled 鈥淐hanging the Future,鈥� was of Tech鈥檚 new Corps of Cadets Leadership and Military Science Building.

Since Moss鈥� death, 鈥渢here鈥檚 been a great outpouring鈥� from admirers, Ghezzi said. 鈥溾�� How many lives she touched, it鈥檚 just amazing.鈥�

Ghezzi said that Moss, who earlier lived near Claytor Lake, moved to Blacksburg about a decade ago. Ghezzi, who had lived in Blacksburg, now lives in Italy and Moss spent much of June visiting her there.

In a June newsletter distributed by her Blacksburg gallery, Moss wrote 鈥淟ooking across Valdichiana from my porch in Cortona, I couldn鈥檛 help but reflect on my previous trips here, especially the ones with the Moss Society. I wish you could enjoy this spectacular day with me. I am fortunate to have two of my daughters here.鈥�

It was around the time of Moss鈥� return to the United States, accompanied by her daughter Patty Moss, that there were problems that prompted a visit to a medical facility and the scan that found the suspected glioblastoma, Ghezzi said.

A notice was sent out cancelling Moss鈥� appearance at a show and open house scheduled for last weekend at her Waynesboro gallery 鈥� Ghezzi said that she thought it was the first time that her mother had missed.

Ghezzi recalled that for her and her siblings, childhood schedules revolved around art and crafts shows where her mother exhibited and sold her paintings. The high point of summer vacations was an art show in Virginia Beach, because that meant the children could enjoy a week of sand and waves, Ghezzi said.

At the art shows, Moss would routinely approach local schools to see if she could give a presentation. The schools often tried to have her speak to advanced classes, Ghezzi said. But Moss didn鈥檛 want that, instead saying, 鈥淕ive me the worst students you have because that鈥檚 what I was,鈥� her daughter recalled.

Moss鈥� drive to include art in education didn鈥檛 change. When she gave $10 million to Tech, one of the largest donations that the university had received, Moss remembered an early teacher who encouraged her own artwork.

鈥淚f you teach us well, we will give you gifts,鈥� Moss said during Tech鈥檚 public announcement of her donation.

On Tuesday, Ruth Waalkes, the Moss Center鈥檚 executive director, said that Moss continued to come to events at the arts center. In May, Moss came to a senior arts student reception held as part of graduation weekend.

鈥淪he really cared about the students and education,鈥� Waalkes said.

Nester said that Moss had remained 鈥渧ery involved鈥� at her Blacksburg gallery, located in the Kent Square complex on Main Street. Moss came in every week or two to sign artwork or meet clients, Nester said.

鈥淪he had a way of touching everyone,鈥� said Nester, who called Moss 鈥渁 second mother.鈥�

鈥溾�� She treated everyone with just such respect 鈥� She had time and she always had a story,鈥� Nester said.