Peter Michael Mooney
February 7, 1943 – July 28, 2014

Peter Michael Mooney entered into eternal rest on Monday, July 28, 2014, at his home in Branson, MO following a long, hard fight with lymphoma cancer. A celebration of his life will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Branson, MO beginning with a vigil consisting of a visitation at 6:30 p.m. and prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31. The funeral Mass will also be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Friday, August 1. His remains will be interred in Weiser, ID alongside his parents and his son Kevin who died in childbirth.

Pete was born on February 7, 1943, in Sacramento, CA to Richard and Faye Mooney. He was the third of six children. Pete attended Catholic grade schools and graduated high school from Bishop Armstrong/ Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, CA. It was in high school where he met his lifelong soul mate, Kathy Roberts Mooney.

Pete and his wife Kathy were married in 1964. This past spring they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by their family and Michael and Nancy Elorduy, their closest childhood friends who stood up for them at their wedding,

After attending college at Sacramento State and University of Idaho, he went on to learn the cattle business from whom he considered the best cowboy in the West, his father Richard Mooney. Pete worked cattle alongside his dad for 16 years before purchasing his own ranch in southern Missouri. After moving his wife and four children to Ava, MO, he worked the ranch for a total of 38 years while the girls grew up and graduated high school. Ava was the home of many special friends; many of whom were members of their parish community at St. Leo's Catholic Church. It was at St. Leo's that Pete started the annual tradition of the community St. Patrick's Day dinner. Pete looked forward to his noon time golf friends and his morning coffee club. After selling his ranch in 2012, Pete and Kathy retired to Branson, MO where they quickly found a home at Pointe Royale. The friends they made the past few years became as close as those they have known a lifetime. Again, it was his golf and morning coffee buddies who were the highlights of Pete's days.

Pete will be remembered for his quick Irish wit, hearty laugh and love for a good debate. Those who knew Pete, even a short time, knew he was a proud Irish man with the gift of gab. Rooted in his deep faith as a Catholic, he was a true example of a humble Christian man. Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by his family, especially his grandchildren -whether it was cheering them on at their ballgames, watching them perform, or hearing their stories, his grandchildren gave him great joy. Pete had claimed two home countries: the USA and Ireland. He was blessed to travel to Ireland ten times, each time with different people and made different memories. Everywhere he traveled, he collected friends and Ireland was not any different. It was there Pete and Kathy found their special friends, Brendan and Rose Gilroy. His ultimate legacy is the love and loyalty that he had for his wife Kathy… it is that adoration that his girls remember most fondly of their father.
Preceding him in death are his parents Richard and Faye Mooney and his baby son Kevin Mooney.

Pete leaves behind his wife Kathleen Marie (Roberts) Mooney of the home; daughters and son-in-laws; Debbie and Todd Randell of Springfield, MO; Ann and Matt Leonard of Ava, MO; Colleen and Scott Alrutz of Newnan, GA and Mary and Brian Burns of Kansas City, MO; eleven grandchildren Pete and Zach Leonard, Connor, Ryan and Keegan Randell, Paige Deweese, Ainsley and Michael Alrutz, Molly, Maureen and Maeve Burns. He is also survived by four brothers and sister-in-laws; Frank and Marcia, Sacramento, CA; Dick and Jody, McCall, ID; Terry and Lori, Weiser, ID; Tim and Hollie, Pullman, WA and one sister Patricia Mooney of Payette, ID. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends who were all very special to him.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pete's high school alma mater, Christian Brothers High School; where there is a scholarship established in honor of Pete's deceased brother-in-laws Mike and Jim Roberts. Donations can be mailed to Christian Brothers High School, Roberts Scholarship Fund, 4315 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95820.

Services conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.