Baker City, Oregon
Arthur Liddman Moothart, 76, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 15, 2001, after many years of battling emphysema.
There will be a private family service at 1 p.m. Monday at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Private interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate.
Mr. Moothart was born May 26, 1924, at Cartersville, Mo., to Edwin and Edith Barnett Moothart. He was raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
After fighting three years in World War II, he moved to Oregon where he met the love of his life, Jerlene Simpson. They were married on Jan. 24, 1958, and together they had four children.
He raised his children with lots of love and was a strong father figure they looked up to. He denied himself things so his children could have more.
Mr. Moothart was a loyal and honest man whose word was trusted. His children said they were very proud to call him Dad. He raised them with honest, God-fearing values and he always said, “If your word isn’t any good, then you aren’t any good.”
Mr. Moothart loved to hunt, fish and trap. When he was no longer able to do those activities, he loved to hear hunting and fishing stories from his sons and sons-in-law. He will be forever missed by his family.
Mr. Moothart trusted in his Lord and Savior and is dancing on streets of gold with his wife, Jerlene, who died in 1998. He often told his children of the time his squad leader asked him to go out on scout duty during the war.
The duty was strictly volunteer, and every scout who had gone before him had been killed. He prayed about it and opened his Bible, which fell open to Psalms 91, which says in part “No disaster will come near your tent for he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.”
Mr. Moothart volunteered and he came back safely.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jerlene; his parents; three brothers, Levi, Pat and Herschel Moothart; and a sister, Inez Oliver.
Survivors include his children, Kathy and Doug Parker, Sheryl and John Smith, Jim and Barb Moothart and Tim and Lisa Moothart; grandchildren, Doug and Lynn Parker, Travis Parker, Bri Parker, Kayci and Coleton Smith, Tyler, Tarrah and Taran Moothart and Brandi, Chad and Camren Moothart; great-grandchildren, Cassidy, James and Adrienne; a brother, Mike, and his wife, Vie; a sister, Dotty, and her husband, Donald Oliver; a brother and sister-in-law, Gillis and Ophia Simpson; and his many friends at Settler’s Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker Valley Christian Assembly through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 19, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor