Obituary - Hoyt P. Moss

Friday, January 5, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Former Alaska state Sen. Hoyt Palmer Moss, 79, died Dec. 31, 2000, at his home in Chugiak after a lengthy illness.

He was born July 19, 1921, in Atlanta, Ga. He and his wife Mickey Niver eloped the night they met and were married for 61 years.

His passion for flying was born from the biwing barnstormers. His family wrote, "He learned to fly by the seat of his pants and a lot of prayer." He worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corp. in Georgia and provided numerous inventions patented by Lockheed. As a pilot he worked as a crop duster and as the private pilot for the Speaker of the House and lieutenant governor of the state of Georgia. He flew CIA missions to Cuba during the Cuban missile crises and served in the Army Air Corps. He flew the first recon missions over the North Pole from Ladd Field and was part of the Berlin air lift.

After 1967 he lived in Alaska and worked a bush pilot, gold miner, homesteader, state house representative, senator and author. He lived in Juneau during the legislative sessions from 1978 to 1984.

He was preceded in death by his mother Thelma Moss and his father Henry Grady Moss. Survivors include his daughters Huvian Gallaway of Eagle River, Sharyn Camp of Tyronne, Ga., Deborah McGoldrick and husband Jim McGoldrick of Eagle River; his brother John F. Moss and wife Sylvia of Hixon, Tenn.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. today in Chugiak.

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