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In memory of

Raymond Richard Moore

Peoria, AZ, USA

February 8, 1927 - February 16, 2019

Feb 8, 1927 - Feb 16, 2019

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Raymond Richard Moore
Born: February 8, 1927 Gifford, Pennsylvania
Died: February 16, 2019 Phoenix, Arizona

Raymond Richard Moore of Peoria, Arizona passed away early in the morning of Saturday February 16th after reaching the age of 92 years old. The night after spending time with his three dear daughters and expressing joy that they were all together, our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend died peacefully in his sleep.

Raymond “Ray” Moore was born on February 8, 1927 in Gifford, PA to Luvene Margaret (Voit) and James Maitland Moore. He grew up in the beautiful green country near Seneca, PA with his older brother Ken and his younger sisters Irene, Joanne, Virginia and Martha. Like many during that time, his family was hit hard during the Depression. As young children he and his brother and sisters would pick berries to sell to neighbors for money to help keep their family together.

After graduating from Cranberry High School in 1945, Ray entered the Army. During basic training he was quickly injured when a piece of munitions shrapnel lodged in his neck. The piece of metal remained there for the rest of his life and became a souvenir that he would smilingly show his grandchildren. In the Army, he served in Germany during the immediate aftermath of World War 2. He told stories of being a young man guarding German prisoners of war near Regensburg and being struck by the fact the only thing separating him from the war hardened young soldier he was guarding was that “I happened to be the man who was holding the rifle”. He was deeply affected by the poverty and chaos that the war had caused. He told stories of people in the cities where he was stationed who held their hands through the fence wire begging for food.

Discharged from the Army in October of 1946 he returned to Pennsylvania where he met the love of his life Margaret Elizabeth Hogan (b. July 8, 1921, d. March 3rd, 2008). He went to work for his uncle Raymond in Kansas driving a dump truck during the wheat harvest in the summer of 1947. On October 16th, 1948 he and Margaret married and their first child Marie Ann (Shepard) was born on June 8, 1949. Ray attended Clarion State Teachers College (now Clarion University) and graduated with a degree in Chemistry and Physics.

Raymond started his career teaching Chemistry in high school. His first job came to him in part thanks to his genetic make up: “…I was finally directed to a little school nearby for an interview. When I got there I found eight other guys there to interview for the same job. Fortunately for me, whoever they hired had to also be assistant football coach. I had never played football in my life but as it turned out neither had any of the others. I was the biggest and I got the job.” He and his small family moved to Michigan where he taught Chemistry, Physics and Trigonometry. His son Dan Jay Moore (d. March 24, 1976) was born on May 7, 1951 and his daughter Karen Jean (Rastegar) was born on September 26, 1954, followed by twins Barbara Louise (Fatemi) and Timothy Allan Moore on October 1, 1956. With his family growing quickly and having to move frequently for better paying jobs, Ray left teaching and started working for Honeywell Corp in 1957 as a Sales Engineer for scientific and industrial instrumentation. He continued with Honeywell, was promoted and he and his family moved to Littleton, Colorado in 1968. He left Honeywell in 1971 and moved to Indianapolis to work for Esterline Angus for a couple of years before starting his own company in 1973. Moving to centrally located and picturesque Salt Lake City, Utah, he began his final career stage as an independent sales rep working for 8-10 different companies that included Utah Power and Light, and Argon National Labs among others serving territory in Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming. The quiet, carpeted basement of his Vintry Lane home was where his business office was located. His grandchildren have wonderful memories of their grandmother doing clerical work there in between going upstairs to make them lunch.

He retired from business in 1988 and he and Margie moved to Sun City West, Arizona.

He was very committed to children. He believed that they should have resources, should be active and stimulated. As a community member in Livonia Michigan, he worked hard to get the community swimming pool built. The large beautiful pool is still in operation today and is home to the Newburgh Swim Club of Livonia serving countless children and families over the years. He was a Boy Scout Master for many years, organizing meetings, planning campouts and working with his son Dan and other boys until Dan left the scouts at age 14. A trait that he shared with his father, Ray valued the world that we live in. His daughter Marie remembers him coming home with golf bags full of trash that he had collected from the golf course. He loved the game of golf having learned to play from Jack Hollenbeck or “Mr. Holly”, a beloved neighbor up the street on Joy road in Livonia. While they were growing up, Marie and Dan would caddie for their dad on the course. Learning to play through an instructional flip book, Ray also became an avid tennis player and played the game well into his eighties.

Ray was a historian. He had extensive and fully formed opinions on presidents and conflicts and historical events throughout the Americas and Europe. He would talk of battles between British and French generals, land grabs of railroad tycoons, explorers in South America and dismiss or champion presidents and their accomplishments no matter how many generations had passed. A trait that he passed to his children and grandchildren, Ray was a voracious reader. He continued reading and learning until he died. He believed in civic engagement and participation in politics. He was always very informed on the politics of the day and had intense feelings as to causes that he believed to be unjust. He was an avid letter to the editor writer. He was also a champion for civil rights especially at a time when it wasn’t so common to be. His children and grandchildren remember several instances when he would spiritedly take a stand against bigotry and classism as it would present itself in everyday interactions with relatives, co workers, and even fellow golfers.

He was an exceptionally generous father to all of his children and grandchildren. And his generosity extended to many off his extended relatives. Purchasing houses, cars and bicycles, Ray would always be there for any family member in need. He was a wonderful and thoughtful letter writer. His children and grandchildren are all very lucky to have had such a close relationship with him. He will be dearly missed by all of us.

In the words of his daughter Karen, “He was tall, handsome smart, often wise and plenty cynical. He was Mom’s ‘Fella’, her love. He adored his family completely and would help any of us when we were in need. I will miss him terribly.” He was and continues to be a great role model to us all and will be greatly missed.

Ray is survived by his sisters Joanne Moore of Tucson, AZ, Virginia DeStefano of Chicago, Il, Martha Wardlow of Battle Creek, MI, daughters Marie andd husband Perry of Lawrence, KS, Karen of Denver, CO, Barb Fatemi and husband Abdi of Olympia, WA and his son Tim Moore and his wife Dianne Weyna of Napa Valley, CA, his grandchildren Sarah Pawlush her husband Mark of Manhattan KS, Kaveh Rastegar of Los Angeles, CA, Afsheen Fatemi of Olympia, WA, Monear Fatemi and her husband Wes Daughenbaugh of Olympia, WA, Max Shepard of Los Angeles, CA and great grandchildren Casimir, Emilia and Elena along with countless nieces, nephews and extended family. He also leaves behind his partner of 5 years Annegritt Roentgen.

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