Robert (Bob) Moss passed away Jan. 30.

Bob was the New Year’s baby in 1921 in Payette, Idaho. His parents were James and Marie Moss. Being one of 13 children, Bob’s siblings included brothers Frank, Ralph, Bill, Don, Ronnie, Jack, and Clark, and sisters, Anna, Mary Helen, Beunita, Dorothy, and Katherine.

Bob went to school in Payette until his sophomore year of high school when he started working on local ranches to help support his family. He joined the Idaho National Guard in 1941, and was activated during World War II. He was sent to Mississippi to train with the 65th Infantry in the 868th Artillery.

Bob met and married Velma L. (Babe) Baldwin, who later joined him in Mississippi.

In December 1944, Bob’s unit was shipped out of New York Harbor for France as part of General George Patton’s 3rd Army. At the war’s end, Bob was in Innsbruck, Austria. First Sergeant Bob Moss stayed in Austria and Germany until December 1945, and was discharged to return home to Idaho.

Bob went to work at this time on several ranches. In May 1947, Bob and Babe welcomed a daughter, Linda. Their first son, Dennis, was born in 1948. The family then moved to Burns, and Bob went to work for Edward Hines Lumber Company, where he worked in the powerhouse and warehouse. Their second son, Stephen (Steve), was born in 1951 in Burns. Bob went to work in the accounting department for Edward Hines Lumber shortly after Steve’s birth and worked in that capacity until he retired from Edward Hines Lumber Company when the mill closed. He later worked as a bookkeeper for LTL logging.

Bob was very active in Little League Baseball. Along with friend, Inie McCallum, Bob prepped, planted, and kept the league fields up for many years.

Together, Bob and Babe enjoyed being outdoors. They loved fishing, camping, rockhounding, and picking huckleberries, to name a few. They especially enjoyed working for many hours in their own yard. They hauled rocks from many places to build a beautiful fence surrounding their home. Cooking barbecue in his backyard and visiting friends and family were some of Bob’s other favorite pastimes. He was also very active with the city of Hines, working on the city council, and was also the mayor, city recorder, and justice of the peace, each for a time.

Bob lived with some difficult health challenges in his later years. He never complained and always had a kind word for everyone. He was famous for making his homemade sourdough hotcakes each Sunday morning for many years for anyone who wanted to come.

After Babe’s death in 2011, Bob continued to enjoy visits with friends and family. He could be seen sitting on his front porch enjoying his daily Pepsi with his faithful companion, Punkin.

Bob is survived by his children, Linda and John Peterson, Dennis and Sharon Moss, Steve and Beryl Moss; grandchildren, Nicole Moss, Jason (Kensley) Moss, Taci (Paul) Weil, and Ryan (Danielle) Moss; and great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Connor, Aniston, Joseph, Avery, Megan, Owen, Keenan, Kamran, Katelyn, Kellen, and Spencer; as well as his brother, Jack Moss.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; wife, Babe; and grandson, Toby.

All donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Harney County Home Health and Hospice. Memorial service arrangements are pending, to be held at a date in early summer. LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of arrangements.