Jackson W. Moffitt

Jackson W Moffitt 1923 ~ 2008 Jackson W. Moffitt, beloved husband and father, passed away quietly at his home on Dec. 3, 2008 of natural causes incident to his age. He will be deeply missed by his wife and family, but we rejoice that he is reunited with family and friends who preceded him in death. Jack was born in Orangeville, Utah on February 20, 1923 to Leona Moffitt and Edward Garr. He grew up under very modest circumstances in the farming communities of Emery County, Utah, but was surrounded by a loving extended family and many friends. He graduated from Central High School in Castle Dale, Utah. He remained close to his high school classmates throughout his life, continuing to attend frequent class reunions even in his advanced years. His friends were a life-long source of joy and comfort. In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers. He served his country in World War II in campaigns in the Philippines and New Guinea. Following his honorable discharge from the military at the conclusion of the war, he returned to Emery County and went to college under the GI Bill, studying at Carbon College (now the College of Eastern Utah) and later at the University of Utah. He graduated with honors from the College of Engineering at the University of Utah in 1952, with a degree in Mining Engineering. He married Valaine Jones on February 28, 1947 in Huntington, Utah. Later that year, they were sealed in the Manti Temple. Together, they raised four sons. Jack began his professional career in 1952, as a mining engineer with Kaiser Steel (and later with U.S. Steel), designing coal mines, washing plants and other mining facilities in Utah and Colorado. This began a life-long love affair with both geology and building things. Jack could design and build anything-from coal mines, to LDS chapels, to garages or home additions, to beautiful cabinets, to killer Pinewood Derby racers. His designs were precise and his structures were sound. He was always concerned about the safety of the men who worked in the mines he designed and supervised, and with the well-being of their families. To his credit, no mine that he designed ever experienced a fatality from its design or in its operations. Wanting to raise his family in a larger community, with more opportunities for education and personal development, Jack left U.S. Steel in 1962 and accepted a position with the Mining Branch of the United States Geological Survey. His career with the U.S.G.S. would open the world to him and his family. He began his second career in Billings, Montana, as Deputy Director over the Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota regions. Later, he was promoted to Deputy Director of the National Office, and he and his family moved to Washington, D.C. While in the National Office, he helped author many of the Federal regulations which still stand as the primary source of regulatory law for the mining industry. In 1969, he returned to Salt Lake City to ultimately become the Regional Director of the Mining Branch of the U.S.G.S. He worked there until he retired in 1987. He received many awards and recognitions as an engineer, including certification as a Professional Engineer. He was also a respected administrator. Jack was blessed with a keen intellect and an unquenchable desire to learn. He loved to read. History, philosophy, the scriptures, Tom Clancy novels, the sports page- it didn't matter what it was, if it was well written, it was worth reading. As a young man, he loved to hunt and fish and was well known in his community for his stamina, his marksmanship, and his good luck as a fisherman. Of course, Jack would tell friends that his prowess as an angler had nothing to do with luck. His love of the outdoors ultimately evolved into a passion for gardening. His yard was always immaculate and his flower beds were beautiful -designed and executed with the kind of perfection you would expect from an engineer. He loved and grew beautiful roses and delicious raspberries. The roses were for his sweetheart and eternal companion, Valaine. The raspberries were for him and his grandchildren. He loved to dance, and at 6'5" was as imposing as he was graceful on the dance floor. Jack and Val were great dance partners, and they were even better life partners. Their love and devotion to each other, through good times and bad, have set an example of commitment and companionship to which their posterity aspire. Most of all, Jack loved his wife and his sons, and he was completely devoted to them. He provided a life-long example of hard work, perseverance, fulfilling one's duties, serving others, and, most of all, keeping one's word - no matter the cost. He was honest in everything he said and did. In his last years, he was a living example of enduring great pain and physical indignities with courage, patience, and remarkably good humor. We are blessed to be his wife and sons. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life. He served in several bishoprics, in the Mission Presidency of the North Central States Mission, in High Priest Groups, and with his wife, as an Ordinance Worker in the Jordan River Temple. He leaves a legacy of dedicated service to the Lord and to all who associated with him. He is survived by his wife, Valaine - his completely devoted and eternal companion, his lover, and, in his last years, his full-time caregiver. He is also survived by his four sons, Jackson Kirk (Fern), Billings, Montana; Ronald Glenn (Suzanne), Mark Howard (Jana) and Scott Edward (Jerelyn), all of Salt Lake City, Utah; and by 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 12:00 noon at the LDS Brighton Fourth Ward Chapel, located at 2300 East Bengal Blvd. (7600 South). Family and friends may call at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 South), on Sunday evening, December 7, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., or at the Brighton Fourth Ward Chapel from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m., prior to the funeral services. Interment, with military honors, will be at Mountain View Memorial Estates, Cottonwood Heights In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary or Perpetual Education Funds or to your favorite charity.