Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Brent J. Moss. A Quiet Giant

My dear friend and neighbor Larae lost her best friend and husband to cancer last week.

His funeral will be tomorrow.
He was a wonderful man and mentor to so many.
He quietly went about his business doing such great things.
He was our bishop when we were new to Rexburg.
He was a lawyer and later became a judge.
He started and contributed greatly to mental health courts. He spoke all over the country about his programs here. Anywhere in the country you could say his name among the legal profession and his name would be known...for great things.

He accomplished so much in his life.
He said that all he ever wanted to be
was a cowboy.
He will be greatly missed.

He was a wonderful husband, father and friend.

My husband describes him as a
Quiet Giant.

His passing leaves aching hearts.

His quiet words were profound.
Years ago when he was our bishop I remember him saying something that has stuck with me for years:
(It's the saying at the bottom of my blog, I've had it there forever.)
"Don't get caught up in the thick of thin things"
It left an impression and I've found myself thinking through many situations in life that maybe, just maybe, this is a thin thing.

Our family loves you, Brent!
We are here for you, Larae!

35 comments:

CB said...

He sounds like he was a wonderful man.
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. It is never easy.
I love the quote - it speaks volumes.

Julie Harward said...

Thanks for sharing him, I loved the last picture of him on that beautiful appie. Thank God for good men...they seem to be few nowadays! I love that quote too, so true. May you always remember him..til you meet again! :D

Lisa said...

A wonderful homage. What a blessing to have these people in our lives.

Connie said...

I'm sure he left quite a legacy! My sympathy to his family, especially his wife. They're fortunate to have friends and neighbors like you, Tauna.

Kristina P. said...

He sounds like a wonderful man. I am sorry for your loss.

Cluttered Brain said...

Ahh. What a wonderful eulogy for the man! I am sorry for your loss, He sounds like he was a wonderful man!

I hope your friend reads this..It is beautiful. :)

gigi said...

I'm sorry for your loss of a great friend and neighbor. I know yall will miss him. Prayers for his wife and family at this difficult time. Great quote, if we could all just remember it and try to live by it too.

Kazzy said...

Sorry for your friend and for you. Sad to lose people we love. :(

TisforTonya said...

thinking of you Tauna!!! What a beautiful tribute :)

Kirsten said...

I've really missed them since moving out of the ward. Each time I've seen them since I've tried to stop and say hello. He'll be dearly missed. My heart has ached since we heard the news. He was such an amazing man! What a great example to so many people! Thanks for posting this!

g.suzie said...

So sorry to read of his passing, you are lucky to have had him for a neighbor. . .Larae is blessed to have good neighbors like you to help her get through this difficult time!

JoAnn said...

Well said, my friend, well said. I unabashadly cried when I read his obit. I'm amazed at how much he accomplished and how much he lived in his short 65 years. Bish is right -- he truly was a quiet giant. Thanks for your thoughts. I know you are a special friend to Larae. <3 JoAnn

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

oh I'm so sorry for her loss. He sounds like such a great person. I hope what she knows helps her until she sees him again.

MZ said...

Well said. He was a great man.

Krista said...

It's a blessing to know and surround ourselves with great people. So sorry for your friend's loss.

Braden Bell said...

That is a beautiful tribute, Tauna. He sounds like a great man. I love these kind of quiet giants.

Barbaloot said...

That was a lovely tribute. He sounds like he was a wonderful man.

Scrappy Girl said...

That is a great quote. So sorry for your loss.

Laura said...

That IS a great quote, and good words to live by.

Yvonne said...

He sounds like he must have been a great man. I'm so glad you are there for your friend. I think losing a spouse must be such a difficult thing--so grateful for the Plan of Salvation.

Love the quote.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. What wonderful things you shared about him. Hugs

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

I'm sorry about your friend.
He sounds wonderful.

Adam & Leesha Wickern said...

:( Little secret, when Adam and I were deciding which ward to attend when we first moved in this area, we had been to our current ward a few times, but just couldn't decide where we wanted to stay. We attended Bro. Moss' sunday school class and we both knew right then that we wanted to be in this ward. It was exactly what we were looking for. I love that man and I didn't even know him!

Beth at Aunties said...

Tauna,
My heart aches for his family. When a GENTLE GIANT goes home, he leaves a huge hole. This a beautiful tribute for a life well lived. I am so sorry, yet thrilled he ahs left such a wondrful legacy of memories.
Not 30 minutes ago I was holding my own sweet friend, just 54 years old and now a new widow in my arms on our driveway. She is miserable without her sweetheart.
Just continue to love and listen to Larae. Thank
goodness for eternal marriages. What would we do without that blessed knowledge and sealing ordinance?
I am grateful she has you in her life. She will need you in the next weeks and months.
I too love that quote and need to remember it more!
~♥

Kimmie said...

What a sad thing...to lose such a wonderful person! His wife looks really familiar...I wonder where I know her from

I just LOVE the photo of him on top of Hurricane Pass. My family and I have been on top of that pass every year (except last year) for the past 7 years. It is one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been.

As I was heading into town for Physical Therapy this afternoo, there was a huge procession of police cars (it looked like about 20 of them with their lights on) and then a hearse and then a long line of cars. I had a sad feeling inside thinking someone really important must have died as to have that many police cars leading the procession. I told Tracy about it and he said "Yea, Brent Moss died and it was his funeral today...he was a judge in Rexburg".

I'm broken hearted for his sweet wife and family. What a blessing it is to have such wonderful people in our lives who teach us so many great things and who help mold and shape us into the people that we are today.

What an honor it is to be called a "Quiet Giant"...not out to get the praise of man, but rather doing good to do good and not need to have your name in neon lights. What an example that is to all of us. I want to be a "quiet giantess" as well.

Larae is so blessed to have you for a friend and so AM I!! You're an example of righteousness and goodness and what an honor it is to know you Tauna!

May you and Howard feel peace at this time of great loss. "hugs"!

Sherrie said...

What an awesome tribute to your friend. It sounds like he was a really terrific man. I am so sorry to you and to his family for your loss. Thanks for sharing!

Mikki said...

Tauna, so sorry for the loss of your friend. This is a lovely tribute to him. Sending prayers your way.

Hilary said...

Thank you for sharing that Tauna- Bishop Moss was and is a wonderful man! Would you mind commenting on my blog or facebook with Larae's street address? I'd like to send her a card.

Small House said...

So sorry that you have lost such a good friend. My heart is sad for his wife that is left without him.

Glad to read that you enjoyed a happy anniversary, at my favorite place YELLOWSTONE!

Have a great day.
Sandra

Debby@Just Breathe said...

What a sweet post honoring a very dear man. Keeping his family in my prayers.

mCat said...

What a nice tribute.
And I love that saying. I need to write that down where I can see it all day long

wendy said...

He sounds like a wonderful person indeed.
I like that saying....It would serve me well in life I think........as I tend to make THICK alot of thin things.

Why do all the good ones go and there are still so many "crappy" people hanging around?

Lisa Loo said...

I am so sorry for your loss and hope that all is well for you and their family. And thanx so much for the sweet comment on my chemically balanced post. I had braced myself for any kind of comment but everyone has just been so nice.

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Honey I am so sorry that you have lost such a dear sweet friend. He really left some great foot prints in all of your lives and will be missed by so many. What a blessing to have known such a man. My heart goes out to his wife, family and friends.
Love his quote too
Maggie

Laura Lynn said...

He sounds wonderful. We need more people like him as an advocate for mental health awareness.