John S. Moran

Visitation: Thursday, November 10, 2005 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral Service: Friday, November 11, 2005 at 1:00 pm at the Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Interment: will follow in the family location of the CusterCounty Cemetery in MilesCity

John S. Moran, age 94, hung up his spurs and took his last ride into the sunset on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 dying at home surrounded by his family and friends.

John was born on June 22, 1911 in Washtucna, Washington, to Peter J. and Nellie (Foote) Moran, and was the third of seven children. Later the family moved to Lindsay, Montana where he attended area country schools. John and Alice Brown were married May 5th, 1937 in Terry, Montana. For the first 9 years they lived in Miles City on the Tongue River where they farmed and ranched. While living on the Tongue River, they started their family. They had two boys, Loyd and Robert. They spent an additional 4 years in the town of Miles City where John was a yardman at the Miles City Sales yard. He also had a roping arena where he held many events. John put on the first three FFA rodeos for the FFA kids. In 1950, they moved to the Bitterroot Valley near Stevensville, where they made their home for 26 years, farming, ranching and growing certified seed potatoes. In 1971, they adopted their daughter Dawn. In December of 1976, John and Alice moved back to Miles City where they retired. Although retired, John worked at the Miles City Sales yards and later rode fence and checked cattle for both Fort Keogh and the Nefsy ranches.

John was a horse whisperer before his time. He had a special gift with horses and broke and trained many during his lifetime. He humbly talked about a bridle-less cowing cutting and bridle-less calf roping on his favorite bay mare. He won many calf roping events on his good horses. Until the day he died he would share his horse expertise with anyone who asked his advice. His daughter-in-law Bert proudly uses a set of spurs and bit that he designed and made in the early 1940s.

On his return to Miles City he spent many years helping with programs with the Senior Drop in Center, and also served as president for some time. He also was involved with many other organizations and served on many other boards, including the volunteer fire department.

John was a cowboy and pioneer and lived that type of life. John was known for his photographic memory remembering all the details that happened in many events throughout his life. He always had a good story to tell. He enjoyed his garden and making his seven ingredient stew which he shared with everyone who visited. Besides horses and roping his other interests were; leather craft, metal work, and gardening.

John is survived by two sons: Loyd Moran and his wife Bert and Robert Moran and his wife Shirley; a daughter, Dawn Haave and her husband Dan, all of Stevensville, MT; a special niece Georgia Mentikov and her husband Sid, and special friends, Jerry and Rita Fischer, Stacy MacKenzie and neighbor, Fred Jeffers all of Miles City, MT, numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alice in 2004 and all of his brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 1:00 pm at the Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family location of the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. Condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.