Thomas Moats Obituary

Bayfield resident Thomas Ray Moats Sr., died of metastatic liver cancer Monday, July 30, 2012, at his home. He was 59.

Mr. Moats was born to Ernest Ray Moats and Alice Cline-Moats on May 11, 1953, in Englewood. His family said he attended the "School of Hard Knocks" and Sheridan High School.

On June 11, 1971, he married Cathleen Staley in Englewood.

Mr. Moats began his 38-year career pumping concrete with Harvey Hoyer of Allstates Concrete Pumping at the age of 16. He went on to work at other concrete companies, including O'Brien's, Gibbons, Brundage, Murdock and Southwest, before starting his own concrete-pumping business, Moats Concrete Pumping, in 1988. He sold his business in 2003 to travel with his wife and dogs.

The Moats settled in Bayfield six years ago, where Mr. Moats worked for Sky Ute Ready Mix.

"Thomas loved jeepin', camping, fishing, gold panning and barbecuing," his family said. "His family and his dogs were his world."

Mr. Moats is survived by wife of 41 years, Cathleen Moats of Bayfield; sons Thomas R. Moats Jr. of Fort Collins and Russ M. Moats of Costa Mesa, Calif.; brother, Ben Moats of Fort Lupton; sisters Rosie Moats of Colorado Springs, Sharon Murphy of Longmont, Peggy Wooden of Hayden, Ala., and Jane Oliver of Alba, Texas; three grandsons; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life will take place at a later date in Fort Collins.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Moats Family, 625 Republic Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80526.

Online condolences may be sent at www.hoodmortuary.com.