Don Bybee Moss
May 11, 1916-Sept. 26, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008 11:01 AM PDT
Nyssa
Don Bybee Moss, a long-time Nyssa, Ore., businessman and former muncipal court judge, passed away in Walla Walla, Wash., on Sept. 26, 2008. He was 92. Memorial services will be held at a later time.
Don was born May 11, 1916, in Ogden, Utah, to parents, Don Carlos and Stella Moss.
He graduated at age 16 from Salt Lake City’s “South High” and from Henegar’s Business School two years later.
It was as a student at Henegar’s that he joined a dance band and began his lifelong love for performing as a musician.
He played trumpet with several big bands in the Salt Lake City area, including one that was regularly featured in the Hotel Utah Ballroom. Moss was playing for a dance at Murray High School when he met and later married Alice Mulliner, his wife of more than 62 years.
After World War II, he moved his family to Nyssa where he owned and operated the Don Moss Firestone hardware store for 26 years.
He also continued his musical career, playing trumpet and singing with a five-piece combo that played for many weekend and holiday dances in the area.
He also played “Taps” for military funerals over the past 76 years. Moss was a pilot and owned two small airplanes.
After retiring from his retail business, Moss served for 10 years as a municipal court judge in Nyssa. He also played golf nearly every day with his best friend, Larry Saito.
Following the death of his wife, Don moved to Walla Walla to be near some of his children.
He was a resident of Walla Walla for the past eight years.
Don is survived by four children, Ilene Tyler and Steve Moss, of Walla Walla, Jim Moss, of Milton-Freewater, Ore., and Shan Taggart, of Cody, Wyo.; a sister, Blanche Jefferies, of Middleton, Idaho; eight grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; his parents; and a brother, Dayle Moss.
