Mickey (Mick) K. Moss, nearly 85 years old, passed away peacefully from Parkinson’s Disease surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. Mick was born on Nov. 21, 1938, in Salt Lake City to Delbert (Deb) and Ruth Emery Moss. Mick married Marquita Campos Moss on Nov. 16, 1968, in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Together they had three kids and 55 wonderful years.
Mick was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and was the fourth of five children. He worked as his father’s milk hop for the family’s dairy, Moss Dairy. Mickey served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955-60. As a civilian, he chose to live in Honolulu, Hawaii. There he worked for the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (later renamed the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration – NOAA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce at the Honolulu Federal Building. In 1963 he transferred to the Pacific Tide Party at Pearl Harbor as a survey technician. Mickey got to do incredible things during his long and interesting career. He installed and maintained tide stations all over the Pacific and was instrumental in establishing the first Tsunami Warning System. He was also part of the Hawaii Air National Guard as a staff sergeant for the 199th Weather Flight from 1961-68.
In 1973 he was transferred to the Seattle, Washington, office with NOAA. Mick, Marquita and Charlie moved into a new house in Richmond Beach where the family grew to include Andy and Malia. He traveled extensively for work installing and maintaining tide gauges all over the South Pacific and up and down the west coast from California to Alaska. He was promoted in 1996 to the Division Chief of the Pacific Field Operations for NOAA’s National Ocean Survey. He retired in 2004 after nearly 48 years of government service. Following retirement, Mick and Quita moved to Bothell, Washington, and in 2015 they relocated to sunny Southern Utah (Santa Clara).
Mick and Marquita were incredibly involved in their community, especially Richmond Jr. Football. The family had so many treasured friends and fun adventures together. Mick was proud of his children and grandchildren and was the very best husband, Dad and Papa. He had many friends and family who adored him dearly because he was so incredibly loving, intelligent, funny, dedicated and kind.
He is survived by his wife Marquita Campos Moss and their children Charlie (Denise) Moss, Andy (Mandy) Moss, and Malia (Anthony) McDermott; and seven grandchildren Alena, Thia, Cienna, Ocean, Chelsie, AJ and Leilani. He is also survived by his sisters Joyce Petersen and Linda Jarman. He was preceded in death by his parents Deb and Ruth and brothers Donald and Ralph. Mickey is also preceded in death by his favorite dog Kona.
An open house celebration of Mick’s life will be held at their Santa Clara, Utah, home on Saturday, Dec. 9, from noon-4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to remember Mick by learning more about the Tsunami Warning System at www.tsunami.gov, opening your home to a friend, cheering for your favorite Seattle sports team, enjoying a great latte and telling a good joke.
Special thanks to Dr. William Esplin, Intermountain Home Health and Hospice team and Spilsbury Mortuary for their amazing care and support.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Mikey’s online guest book.