James Leland Moffitt, 91, of Spearfish, S.D., formerly of North Truro, died on July 10, 2021.
The son of Leland Edward Moffitt and Elizabeth Celestine (McCaffrey) Moffitt, Jim was born on March 31, 1930 in Perth Amboy, N.J. He graduated from high school in Lynchburg, Va. After college, he served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman during the Korean War.
In 2001, Jim moved to Cape Cod to care for his aging mother. He spent 10 years on the Cape until her passing at the age of 102 in 2011. He left the friends he had made and trekked back to Miles City, Mont. In November 2020, he moved to Spearfish, where he loved the views of the Black Hills that he shared with family until his last day.
While in Truro, Jim was active in the Walter Welsh Council, Knights of Columbus; he also served as a lector for St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown. His hobbies included gardening, woodworking, hunting, and bread, beer, and wine making. He was a lover of knowledge and read books all his life. He also loved his family, adventure, telling stories, and making root beer, ice cream, and hot fudge sauce. Jim leaves many friends across the country.
Jim is survived by his children; Jim Moffitt and wife Molly of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Sheila and husband Jack French of Spearfish; John Moffitt and wife Annette of Woodland Park, Colo.; Irene and husband Rick Helm of Shoshoni, Wyo.; Kathleen and husband Ray Long of Spearfish; Jennifer and husband Arny Beardsley of Miles City, Mont.; Amanda Moffitt of Belle Fourche, S.D.; and Jared Moffitt and wife Shauna of Spring Creek, Nev. He also leaves 17 grandchildren and his sister, Patty, and her children, Elizabeth and Allan.
Jim will be missed and his stories retold for many years to come. His family said that on July 6 he was “looking forward to his new life with great excitement. Now he is living it.”
Calling hours and a Funeral Mass were held in Montana. Family and friends are invited to attend a committal service on Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. in Old North Cemetery, Route 6, Truro.
To share a memory or leave an online condolence for the family, visit gatelyfuneralservice.com.
