Independent Enterprise
Thursday, March 05, 2009
John Allen "Jack" Moggridge, age 90, of Payette, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2009, at his home in Payette. A celebration of his life and of his friendship plus the re-telling of the stories will be 2:30 p.m., Friday, March 6, 2009 at St. James Episcopal Church, Payette. Inurnment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Payette. Condolences may be made to the family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.
Jack was an "original" that can be ascribed as undoubtedly one of the best of the greatest generation. Born on Sept. 18, 1918, in Payette to Bert and Lillian Moggridge his youth was tempered by the Great Depression and the work ethics from his English heritage and parents who carved out a living raising apples. You can say with certain that you can "take the boy out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy" when remembering Jack.
Jack spent his youth farming and hunting ducks on his parents’ ranch just north of Payette and it was comforting for him to know he could walk from Payette to Weiser and never leave a relative’s land. Graduating from PHS, Jack enrolled at the University of Idaho and while sort-of studying agriculture, he took up flying in an open cockpit Stearman. He soloed after eight hours and that course of study eventually led him towards being an instructor for the "Army Air Corps" during WWII. Flying was a "first love" for "Mogg" and it was at Thunderbird Field in Arizona that he met my Mom, Marie. She was keeping track of student hours and he was teaching young cadets to fly. At the end of WWII, the Arizona Fish and Game Department hired Jack and his appreciation of the outdoors, in particular fishing, became a dream job. Whether working in the Kaibab Forest or trapping quail in the Arizona desert, his "farm boy" beginnings were rekindled. The Korean War saw Jack re-called to active duty and this time flying faster and higher in F-80s, caused him to lose hearing in one ear and, with that loss, the right to keep flying.
Not able to be the "jet jockey" made the "farm boy" take a partnership back in Payette, with his Dad, my grandfather, Bert. In 1953, he loaded up everything we had in an old fruit truck, and looking like the Joad’s, we moved back to Payette. It was here, until his passing this last Sunday that my Dad became the center of my life and I think for many more as well.
His friends found his and Mom’s home an un-pretentious "stopping off" place and the fun began. From numerous pranks like the old fire truck and cemented plug on the Batt’s house to the numerous crappie, salmon, and trout fishing trips to Brownlee and beyond, the stories include and are about us all. There were hunting mushrooms on Mann Creek or elk in Cascade or just at the "cabin" in McCall. If he weren’t planting trees on the golf course in Payette, he would have been planting onions in his garden. That period from the 1960’s to the 2000’s was a blur of old fashion love of family, friends, and community. There were trips to foreign countries and to the "old south" with the Schoens and receiving his BS from the U of I, taking just under 60 years or so to complete. The last few years saw Jack slow a bit, kind-of, but he found time to go to "mud lake" with Ginny or to attend every event, including a graduation from the U of I, of his grandson, Patrick, a real love of his life.
There are way too many stories and names of special friends and family to re-count in this short story of his 90 years. It should be that way for us all. Each of us will, I am sure, remember something unique or rewarding in thinking of Jack. The family would dearly like to thank Helen Reed as well as the caring staff of Care at Home for the tender care of my Dad these last few weeks.
He leaves behind a smaller family than what he started out with in the ’50s, which includes his son, Kip and his wife Kari; a grandson Patrick; his close nephew Jim Lee and his wife Eleanor; along with many other nephews and nieces plus a smattering of cousins so near and far, but equally important, a whole "slew" of friends.
Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Marie; his parents, Bert and Lillian; and his sister Mary Jane.
We all know that you loved Jack and if you can call him your "family or friend", you have had a relationship with someone very special.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the restoration of the Portia Club in Payette or your favorite charity, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.