Leon Moore

Obituary of Leon Lloyd Moore

Leon Lloyd Moore was born February 2, 1930 to Edith Morgan Moore and Ralph Andrew Moore in Roseburg, Oregon, in the first year of the Great Depression at a time when most of rural America had neither electricity nor indoor plumbing and farmed and ranched with horses. Leon’s values were like those of many of his peers who experienced the Depression and grew up in a time and place that was still close enough to the frontier to be shaped by it. He was loyal, honest to a fault, morally tough and unafraid of hard work. He put his family before himself and, like many people who grew up poor, he was open-handed and generous. He never passed up a stranger in need and, for many years as a logger, worked from before dawn to after dark without complaint to support his family. Much of Leon’s education came from the world of experience. He learned to farm, hunt and fish early in life. He was an athlete in high school in Days Creek, Oregon, where he played basketball and was the star pitcher and hitter on the baseball team. He entered the working world in his early teens, first as a truck driver and a self-taught journeyman mechanic, and later as a skilled heavy equipment operator. In 1950, after high school, he moved to Dayville, Oregon, following the Montgomery family’s daughter, Marda Jean, and where he helped his future father-in-law in an attempt to rescue a failing ranch. The month following her high school graduation, Marda and he were married. Their marriage lasted 63 years until her death in November, 2013. Soon after their first child, Marsha’s, birth, Leon and Marda accompanied her family to California where their second daughter, Lorri was born and Leon worked for Sierra Mountain Mills as a mechanic and truck driver. In 1958, the two Montgomery families and the Moores uprooted their lives again, moving their children, pets and heavy equipment to Nakusp, British Columbia. Leon drove Cat, kept the equipment running, and bossed crews as they contract logged for Erickson Enterprises on the Upper Arrow Lakes. Some of Leon’s favorite memories were of hunting and fishing with friends and his brother-in-law, Jack, while living in Nakusp. Two more children, Russell and Lorna, were born in British Columbia. In 1963, the Moores once again followed Marda’s parents, John and Pearl, returning to the U.S., settling in Shelton where their last daughter, Sharon, was born, and Leon worked for Simpson Timber Company building roads. In the mid-1980s, Leon took an early retirement, bought a logging truck, and hauled for Simpson for several more years before retiring for good. Leon served his community as a volunteer fireman and Emergency Medical Technician, and worked in the Food Bank for the United Methodist Church in Shelton for many years. Behind his crusty exterior, he was Papa Leon to his grandchildren and “Uncle Beastie” to his nieces and nephews. Leon died September 11, 2014, in Shelton surrounded by his girls. He is survived by his children, Marsha Lockhart (Bruce), Lorri Moore (Paul Sparks), Russell Moore (Rayna), Lorna Shepardson (Paul) and Sharon Fogo (John); grandchildren, Chris Camp, Caitlin Lockhart, Morgan Sparks, Sierra Fogo, Jenessa Fogo, Andrea Fogo, Athena Shepardson, Orion Shepardson; and his only great grandchild, Ben Kaulitzke. He was blessed to have step-grandchildren as well, Jennifer Rose Parker-Sparks, Lindsay and Brad Lockhart, Kristopher and Ben Jones and Sarah Urmeneta. Leon was preceded in death by his wife, Marda; parents, Andy and Edith; older sister, Nettie; younger brother, Jim; and his many beloved dogs who were his constant companions and friends during his retirement. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the United Methodist Church food bank. The family wants to thank the ICU staff at Mason General Hospital for the care provided to Leon his last days with us, and Rose, who befriended him and cared for him during the last year. Please leave memories of Leon or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.
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