James Robert Moseley
James Robert Moseley of Fort Payne, Alabama, and Grants, New Mexico passed away on November 17, 2022 at the age of 78 years. Late in life Jim fell in love with Deadwood, South Dakota, remembering time he spent in the area with his parents on the pipeline crews. The family will hold a private ceremony in the Black Hills of SD and will hold a public service and celebration of life in Grants, NM in June 2023. Jim’s cremains will be interred at the State Veterans Cemetery and Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, N.M.
Jim was born to James Alvin and Abbie Mozelle Moseley, on March 5, 1944 in Rome, Georgia. Jim attended multiple elementary schools traveling with his parents in the late 1940’s and early 50’s as his father Alvin drove truck installing gas pipeline across the Midwest and West, they eventually settled in Milan, New Mexico after his sister Janie was born. Jim graduated from Grants High School, in Grants, New Mexico in 1962 and was drafted into the Army in 1967 and deployed to Vietnam after basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He served 18 months in Vietnam attaining the rank of Sergeant serving with the 62nd Combat Engineers. Jim had several stories about his time in Vietnam and his return home, none of them good, but the experience shaped him for the rest of his life, he liked to tell how he never truly believed he was going home until his plane actually touched down in Texas.
Jim Married Dolores Jean (Jeannie) Powell on August 9, 1968, they had two sons. Jim was a talented builder, the noble art of masonry was his forte; he left his mark on countless buildings in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas and accepted a position with Morrison-Knudsen – at the time one of the largest General Contracting companies in the nation – as a Superintendent, and traveled the rest of the country managing several notable projects such as the US Army Base in Fort Drum, NY and a major subway line in Los Angeles, CA.
He married Lisa Cavin on December 23, 1981, Jim and Lisa had two daughters. After marrying again, Jim decided it was time to put down roots and landed again in New Mexico working for Bob Davis Masonry, he retired as Vice President of Operations in 2003. Jim imparted his ethic and passion for building and creating to all four of his children. He was a member of Malpais Lodge 71 AF&AM and The American Legion Post 80, both in Grants, NM. After retirement, Jim cared for his mother until her death. He finally settled back in the South with his daughter in Fort Payne, AL, and took his final breath with his daughter Jessie holding his hand.
He was preceded by his parents. Jim leaves behind his sister: Abbie Jane Jones (Jerry) of Bosque Farms, NM; his children: Clint Moseley (Julie) of Rapid City SD, Clay Moseley (Erin) of Albuquerque NM, Jessica Coffey (Cody) of Fort Payne, AL and Amanda Moseley of St. Croix, USVI; and his grandchildren: Robert, Magdalena, Bentley and Ellabee.