George Matthew "Mac" Moats
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B - February 8, 2012
George Matthew "Mac" Moats was born on September 5, 1921, in
Moulton, AL. He was the third of 12 children and the oldest son.
Mac had six sisters and five brothers. They were all raised on a
family farm and had very little education during grade school due to
the farm work.
In 1938, Mac joined the Army; being underweight he could not
pass the physical so his recruiter had him fill up on bananas and
milkshakes. Mac served under McArthur from Australia to the
Philippines, he was discharged in 1946 as a decorated WWII veteran,
and used his GI Bill to become a barber. In 1947 he moved to
Weed, California and began working for US Plywood until retirement.
In 1948, Mac married and moved to Redding. His two sons, Jerry
and Donald were born shortly after in 1949 and 1952.
In 1981 Mac retired from US Plywood and married Mary Gabossi.
They moved to Grand Junction in 1983. He loved spending time
with Mary and his grandchildren, big family gatherings, poker with
the boys, music, dancing, traveling, golf, metal detecting, photography
and occasionally gambling at Mesquite during his retirement.
Mac was a lifetime member of the VFW, the Elks, and the Moose.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, Jerry Mac Moats of
Redding, CA, and Donald Moats of Berkeley, CA; three daughters,
Rose Rozmiarek of Grand Junction; Gloria Strouse of Rifle, CO,
and Jody Clatterbaugh, of Meeker, CO; six brothers and sisters,
Helen Lazzarone of Sacramento, CA; Arlene Gillespi of Moulton,
AL; M.A. "Joe" Moats of Hesperia, CA; Argie McPherson of Apple
Valley, CA; Buddy Moats of Lodi, CA, and Mary O'Riley of Moulton,
AL; 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care
of Western Colorado, 3090B No. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO
81506.
Arrangements are under the care of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
