Colton Warren Moser

Colton Warren Moser was an extremely cherished soul on this earth. He made a lasting impression on every path he crossed. We didn’t even deserve to have him as our son. I think, as his parents, it’s assumed you will be teaching your children, but in this case, for his entire 25 years, all he did was teach us and everybody else in his life. He taught us about letting go of what the world thought of you, and in the same token, never judging anyone around you for being different. Colton never slowed down to worry about what anybody thought of him. He was very genuinely himself and uniquely different in the most beautiful way.

He loved community, he loved family, and he considered everybody a good friend. He was also a foodie! While we would eat burgers and fries, he would insist on filet mignon, baby back ribs, and the very best dessert on the menu, if not several of them. Every once in a while, he would stoop down to our level and was known for his routine five meat patties, five orders of fries, a side of raw onion (that made the car stink for a week), and an ice water from In-N-Out. We probably spent over $1 million dollars at gas stations on our daily outings with him, where he loved to get salt and vinegar chips, several large jerky sticks, and a large box of Junior Mints. He would insist on getting a plate at the gas station and would microwave everything together, which again left a horrifying smell. He insisted on heating it up until it was piping hot, and the jerky sticks exploded with grease. It was only then that it was just right for eating in the car!! We are thankful for the very patient and kind gas station attendants who tolerated us for years in Red Bluff, California.

Colton defied all the odds, and even with his severe disabilities after three years of working hard, figured out how to ride a men’s mountain bike, and then he never stopped or slowed down after that. He was completely nonverbal, but I will never forget the first time he stood up on his pedals and went down a steep hill and squealed, “Weeeeeeeeee!!!” He also absolutely loved to hang out with all the skaters at the skate park and ride his scooter, he would go down all the steep slopes and, without any hesitation, go and sit in the crowd and rock back-and-forth to his YouTube music with all the boys. It was always very heartwarming to me that because this group of young men had always felt different themselves, they didn’t flinch at Colton, wanting to be part of the gang. It might seem odd to mention a grocery store in an obituary, but it is fitting for this sweet boy. His favorite daily activity was going to our local Raleys in Red Bluff, where all of the checkers taught him how to give knuckles, the baggers gave him a daily tickle, and made sure to leave all of his snacks out where he could carry them in hand. We also appreciate their security, allowing him to regularly steal expensive berries, candy, and nuts out of the bulk food without any arrests. The deli knew exactly how hot he wanted everything heated up and accommodated. In a world where severely disabled people don’t easily make friends, most of Colton‘s could be found right there. The sandlot bunch that his older brother Garrett brought home regularly to tinker on his jeep in his garage were also boys that he considered his buddies. He would plant it right on the old green leather couch while they all drank old-fashioned root beer and ate Papa Murphy’s pizza and broke things so that they could fix them together and felt right at home. Between his cousin Zach and the Burkhart kids I think Colton believed he at least had four siblings for camping trips, house boating weekends, five seater hotdog adventures on the ski boat and ranch airsoft wars.

Where Colton felt most at home, and I believe closest to heaven, was in water. He learned early, as I threw him and Garrett in a pool and helped them figure out how to get to the side from a young age. Colty didn’t sweat very well, so in the summers, you would find him in the upper Sacramento River in Dunsmuir, or the lower Sacramento River in Red Bluff, as well as the city pool, where he regularly broke diving board rules and drove the lifeguards crazy. He was a little daredevil on our ski boat and rode in front, where he ate water and protected all of Garrett and his friends from getting splashed too hard, and was the last one sitting. He would make me follow him up a narrow ladder to the houseboat roof on Whiskey Town Lake and put my hand on his back and shove him and jump off. I think of his little blue glasses and his big smile barely above the surface of the water, just treading out on the lake and taking in nature. Every time we would take him to the ocean, I accepted the fact that it was risky to let him go way out in the waves, but I felt that it was worth it since that was the only time he was completely happy and experiencing full joy. He had really high-pitched squeals, and I swear on several occasions he called in seals!!

One thing we will miss, but not miss, is his love for listening to Christmas music on repeat REALLY loud all year long!!! I think he never wanted to let go of the joy we all feel that time of year…. Oh Colty…..

Colton‘s older brother, Garrett, probably didn’t know it at the time, but he provided Colton with friends, adventures, taught him humor, and taught him about family and companionship. He also taught him that if you pinch, you will be pinched back and probably harder. I know that Colton is eternally grateful for all of the patience and understanding that Garrett gave him for 18 years. He also made Colton a brother-in-law to Allison and an uncle to Lydia before he left this earth.

Colton’s auntie Christa came into his life right after he was born and was still an infant to borrow a pool key so that she could get a good tan. But we are so glad she did because ever since then, she has been Colton’s tooth fairy, the one to show up every time he went through a rough stretch to give support to him and his mommy. She always included Colton in birthday parties and holidays, and was extremely unconditional and expected all of her friends to do the same. She never once missed sending very tacky, itchy Christmas pajamas for him, and also made sure to keep her pantry unlocked so that Colty could help minimize the candy bucket with leftover Halloween candy for his cousins, Austin and Liam. Colton knows now that she showed up for major surgeries and that she was there to give him goodbye kisses when he moved to Utah. I know that he is grateful that she will continue to be a consistent family to his brother and his mother while he looks over his very special nephews, who always showed him unconditional love and tolerated his candy stealing.

We are all at peace that Colton is with his heavenly father and is an incredibly important angel, and always has been. We believe that he is whole, has a voice now, and knows that his purpose here in life was completed very honorably and bravely. We know that on each side of him are the incredibly special angels who made sure he was not alone when he died.

Colton is survived by his mother, Wendy Rollins, his father, Matthew Moser, his big brother Garrett Moser, sister-in-law, Allison and niece Lydia. He is all survived by his aunt Christa Bowman, uncle Bobby, cousins, Austin and Liam and Zach. His aunt Jessica Rollins and uncle Ryan. And many other dear family members and close friends who loved and supporting him over the years. We will also never forget his beloved, teachers, aides, respite providers, therapists, and all who devoted themselves to his quality of life improving, we love you all.

We ask that the community not allow his life to be in vain and to push for justice for him and his two friends, who were murdered. We know that this is in God‘s hands and that we trust him.

If anyone would like to make a donation, a GoFundMe has been created in Colton's name. You can access it at the following link: https://gofund.me/ffdc86608