Tommy ‘Tom’ James Moates

1937 – 2025

Tommy (Tom) James Moates had a wonderful successful life, filled with love for family and friends and many adventures. He passed away in the hospital in Grants Pass, Oregon on Feb. 9th at the age of 87+ from heart failure and underlying conditions. 

He was born in Fobb, Oklahoma on March 16th 1937 from very humble beginnings, having no electricity or running water, but he thrived and enjoyed his many adventures with his older brother Wendyl. They rode to their one room schoolhouse on a horse. Tom was always on the back, with Wendyl up front. His parents, Bernice and Earl taught him a good work ethic with plenty of chores, and respect and love of the land. Seven years later, his younger brother Charles Earl arrived and eight years later, sister Scheryl. He worked hard picking cotton and peanuts to buy his school clothes and shoes etc. At 16 he quit school and went to work in the Ft Worth stockyards and soon after that he went to work in a trailer shop where he taught himself to weld on his lunch hour. He joined the Army at 19 and was stationed on Long Island, NY where he met the love of his life Regina (Jan) Joseph. They married in 1959 and lived in NY for 6 years where their son, Dwayne, was born. Tom later went to work for the Federal Govt in Texas where their daughter, Sharon was born. They soon transferred from Texas to Utah, to live in the Rocky Mtns. At the age of 40, Tom graduated from Weber State University while working full time and spending as much time as possible with his family. Another chance to see the world, took them to Brussels, Belgium for 3 years where they traveled extensively and where he worked under the US Embassy and met many interesting people and made lifelong friends. .After retiring at the age of 57 they moved to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana and designed and built their dream home. He loved the outdoors and fished endless streams, hiked endless mountains, and floated the Missouri River with his son and friends for the big buck deer that the family enjoyed eating. 

Tom was an avid reader, reading mostly US history books and studying our Constitution. After he retired his artistic skills were fully realized as he taught himself how to design and make beautiful silver jewelry (in spite of having only one eye). He enjoyed selling at the Hamilton Farmers Market for many years and at other art venues. His jewelry was hand hammered on a stump and anvil and he proudly told people his pieces could be passed down for generations. He was able to meet many people from all over the world, and made many wonderful friends along the way . Tom and Jan had many interesting adventures traveling to all 50 states and over 20 countries. In 2020 they moved to Merlin, Oregon due to deteriorating health and to be close to their daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren (but he always missed Montana). Tom and Jan had a beautiful marriage of over 65 years. He will be missed greatly and he will be loved forever . 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice and Earl Moates, his infant grandson, Tanner, and his older brother Wendyl. 

He is survived by his wife, Jan, son Dwayne (LeeAnn), daughter Sharon (Shaun) Bessinger, and grandchildren Alex, Austin and Josie, his brother, Charles Earl (Sandra), special nieces Twila and Janet, and many other close relatives.