White Feather Rocks joins Payson/Santaquin chamber
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held her from going back to the job she loved. White Feather Rocks in Santaquin on She even had to give up doing the foster June 24 in honor of the business joining care that they had done for 21 years the Payson & Santaquin Area Chamber of because of the physical restrictions. She Commerce. The business is located at 27 could, however, set her own limits and W. Main. polish rocks. That worked fine except
Jim and Loretta Moshier, owners of for the cold weather that prevented being White Feather Rocks, were at a crossroads out in the garage. She bought some jewelry trying to decide whether to start a wholesale and started selling it from business or just keep doing lapidary as a the house and at boutiques to go with the hobby. Loretta was at home in the upstairs lapidary work in the winter. That led to window daydreaming and longing for inspiration obtaining some showcases from a closed from above. Out of nowhere, a jewelry department and fitting them in the white feather drifted down gently past the garage. window and into the backyard. She ran When looking for a business location, down to retrieve it and showed it to Jim. the requirements were that it be in Santaquin Both agreed that it was the sign that they and on Main street. They looked at needed, and that is how their business got four other locations that all fell through its name. Since then, they have discovered before they found the current spot. It many mentions of white feathers bearing turned out to be the best of all and things messages from angels or heaven. Even the fell right into place. Native American tribes have stories of the Jim and Loretta have been married symbolism of white feather messages. 30- plus years and have two daughters.
Jim was going to college for his animal The oldest is a sheriff’s deputy in California science degree when he realized he needed and the younger is a social worker one more class in liberal arts. He chose in Salt Lake City. They have three grandchildren. lapidary since it seemed easy enough and They have fostered more than had the right amount of credits. He has 50 children in their home over the years been an off-and-on rockhound ever since. and still have close contact with several He currently is an activity bus driver for of them. They have lived in Santaquin Payson High School, and this allows him for 11 years and worked with Neighborhood time off during the busy summer rockhounding Watch and CERT. They have dogs, season. chickens, canaries and a turtle. Jim’s
Several years ago, Loretta was at a yard “retirement” job is driving the activity sale and found a box of “pretty” rocks for bus for Payson High School. He loves $5. She thought it would be fun to get a his teams and gives them coaching advice tumbler and see how they looked. She in the form of “win or walk home.” went to a rock shop and showed them He owns a classic Harley, is a cancer her rocks, and they said that they should survivor and a Vietnam veteran ( Marine not be tumbled - they were Mexican Fire Corps). Loretta rescues animals on Opal, and if she took time to make them a regular basis and keeps busy with the into jewelry, they could be worth thousands. shop. They like to travel to see family That started the first of a series of and visit the Navajo Nation to get new classes on soldering, polishing and wire jewelry and art for the shop. They try to wrapping. Then Jim bought his first used go rockhounding every other weekend. Cab (polishing) machine, and they were The shop does lapidary, silver work, hooked. Now they have three cabbing machines, Old Pawn Native American jewelry, Navajo two tumblers, three rock saws and jewelry and artwork, Western art, a facet machine. gifts, raw rock and jewelry classes and has
The shift from a garage business came a large fossil collection. They would love because of a major turning point. Loretta to have Scout groups and class field trip was in a car accident that totaled the car groups tour the shop, and they are planning and caused a neck injury that prevented a special children’s corner.