James H. Moore Sr., 90, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 19, 2015, after a brief stay at the Indian River Medical Hospital and VNA Hospice. He was surrounded by family.
He is survived by his wife Joyce Ellen; his four sons and daughters-in-law: James Jr. and Diane of Traverse City, Mich., John and Susan of Gaylord, Mich., Jeffrey and Mari Anne of Northville, Mich., Joel and Catherine of Harbor Springs, Mich.; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his older brother, Alexander W. Moore.
Known as “Jim” or “Jimmy” to his family and friends, he was born to Lewis and Florence Moore on Dec. 12, 1924 in Detroit, Mich.
Moore grew up on Edison Avenue in the City of Detroit in the same neighborhood as car moguls, including the Ford and Dodge families, during the heyday of automotive growth in the Motor City.
He graduated from Northern High School in Detroit and entered Duke University at age 18. He was inducted into the US Army in April of 1943 reporting to the 11th Airborne Division, as part of the 66th Infantry where he was trained as a paratrooper. He made nine combat jumps onto various islands in the Pacific Ocean Theater becoming a decorated combat veteran.
Moore returned to Duke in 1946 where he met his future wife, Joyce Ellen Dawson of Douglaston, N.Y. They wed May 7th, 1949 and began married life in Detroit.
He secured a position in the insurance industry eventually forming an agency partnership in Birmingham, Mich. The couple was among the original 50 members to form the Congregational Church of Birmingham.
After retirement, he and Joyce moved to Vero Beach where they enjoyed their “new life” on the Treasure Coast, generously hosting frequent family vacationers. An avid golfer and boater, he was a charter member of the Birmingham Athletic Club and a member of Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Hills. In Vero Beach he joined the Dodger Pines Golf Club and the Vero Beach Country Club.
Moore enjoyed traveling, circumnavigating the world once, chartering sailboats in the Windward Islands, and visiting his beloved ancestral land of Scotland on several occasions. He was known for his sense of humor, sharing it freely with family and friends.
A memorial service will be held Nov. 13, 2 p.m. at the Community Church of Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made in honor of James H Moore to We Care of Indian River County (www.wecareofirc.org) or the Community Church of Vero Beach music department, 1901 23rd Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960. An online guest book may be signed at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.
