RICHARD NORRIS MORAN

1926 - 2012

RICHARD NORRIS MORAN February 22, 1926 - November 13, 2012 Richard Norris Moran died peacefully at his Red Bluff home on the morning of Nov. 13, 2012. Known to his family as "Oney", he was born in Tucson, AZ, on Feb. 22, 1926, to George and Leatha Moran. His older brother John and younger sister Elaine preceded him in death. His family moved to Modesto, CA in 1942, when he was 16. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943, and served during WWII as a sniper-scout while fighting in Guam and elsewhere in the Pacific. After returning stateside, he met his future bride, Victoria Filios in San Francisco, and they were married on June 16, 1946, at the Greek Orthodox Church in SF. He and his brother enrolled in Modesto JC, where they threw javelin for the school's track and field team. Richard and Vickie's first child, George, was born in Modesto in 1947. Two years later the young family moved to Susanville, where Richard enrolled in the gunsmith program at Lassen JC. He received his AA degree in 1951 and worked for Fruit Growers Supply Company following graduation. The family moved to Red Bluff in 1954, and Richard and Marvin (Shorty) Ford opened Sierra Gun Shop on Walnut St. Although he later gave up the gun shop, Richard continued to do gunsmith work for friends for the rest of his life. Richard and Vickie had a daughter, Denise, born in 1959. Their youngest child, Michael, was born in 1961. Richard worked around the world as a "construction millwright". His construction jobs included "Big Diamond" in Red Bluff, building schools for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska, Titan missile bases in Chico and Lincoln, CA, and Minuteman missile bases in Montana. He built oil refineries for Bechtel International and was working in Saudi Arabia during the "Six Day War" of 1967, and was in the Sahara Desert in Libya when Muammar Gaddafi seized power in 1969. Richard escaped Libya, without papers, with the help of the British Consulate in Tripoli. His last job for Bechtel was building an oil refinery in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The family returned to their home in Red Bluff in 1972 and Richard went to work for the Tehama County Sheriff's Office. He later started his own business serving subpoenas and "doing repos". He loved the outdoors and went on many hunting trips with friends, family and his Weimeraner dogs. After retiring in his 70s, Richard spent most of his time in his backyard and always shared his homegrown fruits and vegetables with others. He enjoyed playing all card games, and was known for telling jokes and stories that made little kids laugh and old Marines blush. He supported his children and grandchildren in their activities and rarely missed a game or music recital. Richard was the American Legion representative for the local Bulls baseball program and was also a member of the VFW. He was an original member of the U.S.Marine Corps League. He enjoyed watching the SF Giants on TV and was disappointed when they swept the Detroit Tigers in last month's World Series, because he "wanted to watch them play a couple of more games". He passed about two weeks after the Series ended. Richard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Victoria, his two sons, George and Michael, and his daughter, Denise Snider, all of whom live in Red Bluff. He is also survived by six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A grandson, Scott Snider, preceded him in death. The family wishes to thank Hospice for their kind support. Internment and Service will be held at the Veteran's Cemetery in Igo, on December 7, at 11:00 a.m. "Semper Fi."