Don Moat

    Clarence Donald “Don” Moat, Jr., age 93, of Duchesne, Utah returned home to his loving Heavenly Father on September 3, 2017.
    He was born March 31, 1924 in Johnson City, New York to Clarence Donald Moat and Lydia Ryan. Don joined the Navy in 1942 in order to serve his country during World War II.  He met his sweetheart Linda Lee Avarell in 1944 at Long Beach Naval Base in California and instantly fell in love. They were married May 14, 1945 in San Pedro, CA and later solemnized their marriage in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1948.  They were blessed with seven children.
    Don continued to serve in the Navy and Marines after World War II and was stationed in Japan, China, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; he deeply loved his country. One of his greatest accomplishments was graduating Cum Laude from BYU in Provo, UT. He and his wife moved to Duchesne in 1955 taking the position of County Welfare Director for Duchesne County.
    Don was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he held many callings. He was also a temple worker in the Vernal Temple which he cherished and looked forward to each week. Don had a cheery disposition and loved talking with everyone.
    Don was blessed with many talents; he could play multiple instruments, sang and performed for many audiences, danced, and painted many pictures that today are displayed across the western states of his friends, children and grandchildren.  He loved building, landscaping, wood working, wood carving and he won many ribbons at fairs over the years for his beautiful masterpieces. His greatest love of all was the outdoors where he spent years hiking, fishing, hunting, traveling, and camping with his wife and children well into his late 80’s.
    He is survived by his wife Linda, of Duchesne, UT; their children David (Rolayne) Moat, Duchesne, UT; Valenna (Daryl) Grant, Duchesne, UT; Starling (Dallas) Reynolds, Evanston, WY; Heidi Clark-Honeycutt, Florence, OR; Chris (Janet) Moat, Layton, UT; Tephra (Delbert) Oman, Burley, ID; 30 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
    He was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Charise Moat, his parents Clarence and Lydia Moat, brother Robert Moat, sister Marge Moat, grandson Lynx Moat and son-in-law Jim Clark.
    Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at 12:00 noon at the Duchesne 1st and 3rd Ward Chapel of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 130 South 300 East.  A viewing will be held that morning from 9-11:30 a,m.  Burial will be at the Duchesne Cemetery with military honors by the Duchesne American Legion.