Michael David Moore

Obituary For Michael David Moore

Michael (Mike) Moore was born in Cadet, Missouri, in his grandparents’ home, with his grandmother as midwife. He spent his early years there, surrounded by a multitude of his parent’s family members.

After World War II, his father enlisted in the Air Force and the family began years of being stationed across America and the Philippine’s. In the late 50s, he arrived at Shilling Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas, where in Mike’s senior year of high school, he met his wife, Karen (Mortimer), whom he married on October 20, 1962. Soon after, they started their adventures by moving to Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, where his older sister and family lived, and he had spent his summers working at the Rod and Reel on chartered fishing boats. After several temporary jobs, he joined a small group of men who trained him to repair and service slot machines. When it became evident that slot machines would soon be illegal, he joined the Elevator Constructor union, Local 10, in Washington DC. When his parents transferred to Dover AFB, he moved his expectant wife and young son into their house in Oxon Hill, Maryland to be closer to work. He installed elevators and escalators until asked to join the maintenance division, where he worked until retiring to New Bern, North Carolina in 1999.

In 1967, the family moved to Clinton, Maryland. While there, he was a founder of the Wildwood Estates Civic Association, was its’ President as well as holding many different committee chairman positions. Softball and bowling leagues were started and joined and many fundraising dances were enjoyed. While only there for six years, many of the friends met during those years are still friends today. It was there that he began camping – from a truck “cap” which had two little boys sleeping on the floor, to an actual truck camper, to a trailer (when son number three arrived). That love continued through another trailer and two motor homes to its’ end in 2012. Too many adventures to relate, but they range over many states and Canada, as well as many Redskins tailgate festivities…. and fabulous memories of attending three Redskin Super Bowls.

In 1973, the now family of five, moved to Waldorf, Maryland and began attending St. Joseph Catholic Church. Not long after arriving, the church was condemned. Mike was in charge of one of four volunteer work teams who were able to help with demolition, some new work and the rebuilding of the church bell tower. He was especially happy when he and Bill Olsen created, by hand, the wooden cross for the Crucifix which hangs above the altar.

During this blessed time, more people were added to the friends and camping list. The twice a year trip to Lee Hall Farm in Virginia was always well attended! Other activities were begun as the boys grew – T ball coach, working with SMYO to bring sports to the Pomfret area, being a Committee Member of the area Boy Scouts (for which he received the Saint George Medal), starting a Saint Joseph Youth Group which over the years included coaching a co-ed softball team, obtaining and driving the church school bus, helping the group put on one act plays, traveling with the youth and adults to visit other parishes and entertain them with skits and a play, fundraising dinners, Gong Shows, candy drives, making wooden objects to sell at the Christmas Bazaar, and organizing retreats.

He worked with his brother, Joe, in Moore Brothers Contractors to help people who had small jobs that needed doing, and to give their children a way to learn some life skills and earn some money along the way, until his brother and family moved to Florida. Then the Moore Brothers van carried props for plays!

In February of 1999, he retired with the move to New Bern. He became the General Contractor for the new home, and when finished with that project, he worked to have the greenest yard on the street. He also took time out to drive the company car for Berne Village at the request of his wife who asked him to fill in for a few weeks – seven years later he finished that assignment. In his free time, he switched his skills to his love of woodworking. He loved being in the shop and creating beautiful pieces that decorate many, mostly family, homes. When he could no longer do woodworking, you could find him outside every day, either mowing the grass or on his beloved golf cart – his “picker upper” in his hand, attacking every stray stick, leaf or pinecone, or inside watching his Washington Nationals.

In February, after several days in the hospital, he was transferred to Cherry Point Bay Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where he hit a plateau and was confined to a wheelchair. In the early morning of September 14th, he joined his grandparents, parents, Harry J. and Dolores (Boyer) Moore, Sr., his brother, Joseph Moore, Jr. and his brothers-in-law, Glen Meyer, John Mortimer, “Spud” Hardesty, Mel Gee, Jake Hardesty, Joe Nenno, Stephen Noonan, sister-in-law, Barbara (Mortimer) Meyer, several nephews and nieces as well as many church and camping friends. Left to mourn are his wife, Karen (Mortimer) Moore of New Bern; sons, Brian (Kathy) Moore of Faulkner, Maryland, Barry (Kathy) Moore of Spotsylvania, Virginia, Mark (Kate) Moore of Welcome, Maryland; grandchildren, Scott (Marisa) of Rockville, Maryland, Steven of Waldorf, Maryland, Jason (Mary) of Faulkner, Maryland, Calvin (Rebecca) of Spotsylvania, Virgina and Madison of Richmond, Virginia, great grandchildren, Quinn, Nicholas, Francesca, Emilia, Elliott and Patrick; sisters, Janet Gee of Prince Frederick, Maryland, Marilyn Hardesty of Newport, Tennessee, Yvonne Noonan of Prince Frederick, Maryland and sisters-in-law, Donna Moore of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, Mary Jane Mortimer of Solomon, Kansas, and all their beautiful families, along with the many friends made over 83 years.

He will be remembered as a good, kind man who loved his family and his faith, had a calm demeanor, was a creative thinker and was someone who could work with anyone to get things done, without fanfare. Well done, good and faithful servant.

His funeral service is 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at St. Paul's Catholic Church 3005 Country Club Rd. New Bern.

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