Obituary

On Sunday, May 31, 2020 Richard James Moran, loving husband and father of seven passed away at the age of 88 from Dementia.

Richard, who went by “Dick” from a young age, was born on May 24, 1932 in Renton, WA to James and Marie Moran. Dick had a tough up bringing from St. Anthony’s Catholic School, O’Dea all Boys School to not having his own bed to sleep on in the 800-sf house where he was raised with his two sisters Delores and Joanie. Dick joined the Navy at age 18 and receiving an Honorable Discharge, as an US N-1 Airman, in 1954 after spending most of his time on the USS Essex, during the Korean War. Upon his return he visited the house of a gal who he had one blind date with four years earlier, Marlene Lasley, who did not recognize him for he had gained 30 lbs. with that great Navy food. Marlene was currently getting ready that day for another date that was already planned, she ended up cancelling that date and started seeing Dick. They were married on May 20, 1955 where they built their own house in Renton, WA. Dick, in 1968, took a contracted job in Vietnam during the conflict, where he worked for the better part of a year building Water Purification Systems. Dick was a hard worker, which he passed that legacy down to all his children, and he was always very proud of them for that. He went from a “ditch digger” to a City Director of Public Works in his career with just a high school diploma, which was a great accomplishment. He held positions in Renton, WA; Goldendale, WA; Clovis, C; Peoria, AZ and Stallion Springs, CA. Dick retired at 62-1/2 in Phoenix, AZ; moved to Cypress, TX in 2006 and spent his remaining years around family. His house was usually full of grandchildren which was a great love of his life. Dick has seven children, Rick, Ron, Mike, Sean, Dan, Lisa, Shay, 20 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Dick had a passion for three things, family, hard work and stories. He spent over 65 years with the love of his life. He also loved his family immensely and would constantly brag about the achievements of all his children. He engrained hard work and ethics into his family which will go on for generations. He never met a story that he did not like and would repeat many of the same stories most over time becoming of legendary status. He loved crossword puzzles, westerns (his favorite actor was John Wayne), cats, chocolate shakes, all children, and his good friends at the YMCA. Dad passed peacefully with the “Quite Man” playing on the TV. Dad was a Born-Again Christian, accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he is in a better place now telling stories to his mother, father and two sisters who went before him.

We love you Dad and will miss you every day, we will continue to make you proud and will await the day when we can get you updated on all the stories you’ve missed.

Dick is survived by his sons Rick, Ron, Mike, Sean, Dan, Shay and his daughter Lisa, 20 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.