Richard Mosley

Richard Arthur Mosley, Jr. October 12, 1948 - November 15, 2013 EXETER, CA - Rick Mosley beloved husband, father and friend, passed on Friday, November 15, 2013. Rick loved his life and the people that were in it. He loved his mom Lela Ann Mosley (deceased), who raised Rick in Hanford, CA after his father Richard Sr's death when Rick was only four years old. He idolized his brother Pat, 18 months his senior, a character in his own right, whom he rebelled with and loved. He married his first and only squeeze, Donna Phillips, almost 42 years ago, after she discovered him under the hood of her 1968 Dodge Coronet. He was extremely proud of his kids, Brent Mosley of Visalia and Shawna Davison and son-in-law James Davison of Ventura. Rick taught by example and believed that a man was only as good as his word. He taught his kids how to select the appropriate tool for the job, to stand up for the little guy, to give generously, and to love God. He took great pride in stocking their tool boxes, their inboxes with corny jokes, and giving advice (even if it wasn't requested). The extended family and friends he loved, and was loved by, is too grand for print. He had a life-long love affair with hamburgers, buying antiques (often called junk by his wife!), restaurants that you order from a menu viewed by looking up, the ability to record TV shows so he could fast-forward through commercials, and "Coke-Thirty" breaks in his garage with friends. He excelled at protecting our country, rebuilding hot rods and a home to his wife's specifications, giving orders even after he retired from 20 years of service in the Air Force, playing Spades, making every fatherless child he encountered feel loved, sneaking car memorabilia into the home décor, telling stories that his family heard a 100 times, and giving amazing bear hugs. He loved to use his universal "high tech" remote control, that he rarely relinquished, to flip between watching the news and anything on The Speed Channel . As a former C-130 mechanic for the United States Air Force, Rick was thoroughly interested in anything that had a motor and a frame that he could customize to display in the next hot rod car show. Rick took fashion cues from no one. His signature every day look was all his: a pair of Levis (if they weren't worn or grease ridden, were considered "dressy") and a car show t-shirt, from one of the hundreds of shows that he attended. To somehow respect his teasing request that his family bury him in his beloved 1940 Ford Coupe with oldie but goodies playing continually, we are asking friends, family and hot-rod enthusiasts (with their rods) to join us for a military presentation service on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10 a.m. at Exeter Memorial Building, 424 N. Kaweah. A celebration of life, filled with required Rick-style laughter, will immediately follow at Exeter Church of God, 246 W. Chestnut. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Exeter Boys & Girls Club, 1003 San Juan Ave., Exeter, CA 93221 or the American Cancer Society.