Tom Harte Moore Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Tom Harte Moore, 89, passed away on November 29 2021 surrounded by loved ones. He was a shining example of faith, integrity, character, and grace for his family and friends. Tom was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Otha Harte and Thomas Bryce Moore, and the love of his life Jean Hamilton Moore. What a joyous reunion they must be having, even as we mourn our loss. To summarize a life as full as Tom’s in anything less than a novel is a challenge. He was sincere and honest, loyal, respectful, and kind; when Tom spoke with you, he was truly interested in what you had to say and always gave his full attention. Tom was, on one hand, an introvert who enjoyed solitary pursuits that fed his studious, intellectual nature and endless desire to learn. Yet he took great care to nurture his family relationships and his long-lasting and lifetime friendships, and always sought out any way he could to help. Tom was driven to find meaning in everything around him: with every trip he took, every site he visited, each new experience he had, every book he read, Tom reflected on what he had learned and how he was changed...and he encouraged others to do the same. Tom enjoyed - no, THRIVED on - intellectual and deep conversations. His brother and nephews, conversationalists themselves, shared that their many “out-west” trips consisted of hours upon hours driving with lively debate and discussion (and not a moment’s silence). Tom often relegated himself to role of quiet observer when family gatherings became raucous or chaotic - he was not one to talk over anyone or raise his voice. But you’d be wrong not to pay him some attention and keep an ear out, because his quick wit and dry humor could make an appearance at any moment, and you didn’t want to miss it! Tom’s journey in this world began with his birth on April 23 1932, in Monroe NC. The Moore family soon moved to Kannapolis, and Tom’s upbringing was nothing short of idyllic. Brother Jim describes their parents as “not at all strict on us, but strict on themselves in terms of morals and integrity”... and they undoubtedly imparted those values. “If the church doors were unlocked, we were in it” says Jim, and this was the foundation of Tom’s lifelong, unwavering faith. Tom graduated from Winecoff High School in 1950 and attended Catawba College and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The latter is where Tom began his lifelong friendship with the late Curt Needham. The summer before their senior year, these two set out for an adventure west in Curt’s 1939 Ford, working enough at odd jobs along the way to fund their travels. There was weed-pulling in Kansas, baling hay, stripping tanbark from trees in the San Francisco area, and whatever odd jobs these young road-trippers could find. This likely laid the groundwork for Tom’s love of travel and adventure, and throughout his life he was to have plenty of both. Tom visited 12 countries, most (if not all) US states, and loved visiting and learning about state capitols. Tom graduated from UNC in 1954 with a degree in Business Administration and had a plan, along with Curt, to join the Air Force and become pilots. But alas it was not to be for Tom, who was unable to pass the eye exam; he enlisted in the US Army and served almost 2 years in the Military Police. Afterwards he returned to his alma mater and by 1957 had earned his MBA from UNC. Tom took a job teaching at a private business college and within a few months developed a plan and a partnership to create North State Business College in Kannapolis. He served as an owner and operator from 1958-1963, during which time North State expanded to include a second (High Point NC) location. Tom spent the next thirty years in the insurance and financial industries : underwriting positions with Allstate Insurance Co and The Omaha Indemnity Co, Operations management, sales and marketing, financial administration, and risk management at Policy Management Systems Corp., and several years as a Financial Planner / consultant. His move to Omaha Nebraska in 1972 renewed his pursuit of two passions: flying and travel. Inspired no doubt by friend Curt, Tom set out to earn his private pilots license, and true to form, he achieved this goal. Nephew Jeff, on a 1975 visit to see Uncle Tom, was treated to a flight in a Piper Cherokee with his uncle piloting. Aviation was a passion these two grew to share, with Jeff taking his own first solo flight just a few years later in a Piper Cherokee, becoming an Air Force officer and pilot, and later being hired by United Airlines on Tom’s birthday in 1990. Tom was one proud uncle! Nephew Hunter went on to earn his private pilot license as well… And just when you thought Tom couldn’t beam any harder, his great-niece Kathryn (Jeff’s daughter) followed the same pilot path as her parents. Quite a family passion indeed! Omaha was also the jumping-off point for the aforementioned Moore men OutWest trips. What began with Jim taking sons Brad and Hunter out to visit to Uncle Tom evolved into a tradition of countless road trips west, and more memories and adventures to list. As the stories go, horseback riding was usually involved, and the Moore boys liked to pretend they were cowboys on “Bonanza”. They enjoyed hiking, and spots they visited repeatedly were Zion National Park, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas. The latter is where this foursome enjoyed what they called “slot suppers”, which consisted of pulling the levers of slot machines for hours until their money ran out, followed by dessert buffets at Circus Circus. Tom was a fan of the coconut macaroon, a love of which he inherited from his father. Their cherished trips took them to Yellowstone, Jackson Wyoming, and a host of other locales, and fed Tom’s love of adventure, camaraderie, and new experiences. Nephew Brad was an enthusiastic amateur filmmaker and documented these trips for decades; when Tom decided to try his hand at moviemaking on their last out west trip, he did it in true Tom style: Studied, carefully crafted, painstakingly put together and narrated. Word has it that Brad conceded video duties at that point, because no one could top a Tom Moore Effort! Nephew Hunter shared that they each enjoyed playing the guitar, along with Jeff, but that their melodies fell a bit short compared to the fun they had trying. Tom’s 1980 purchase of a Nautilus machine inspired a Moore Men movement of physical fitness which became a way of life for all of them. Hunter and Uncle Tom shared a love of chess and of golf (and although it was a long wait, Hunter’s son Brady finally came along and lit Tom and Jean’s world up!). Tom had known Jean (then Wade) since the early 60’s, when both were in the wedding party of Tom’s brother and Jean’s sister. They dated a few times but inexplicably drifted apart. About four decades later they reunited with the help of Jean’s sister Gerry, began dating, and this time it “took”. Tom, who had been a bachelor for 69 years, married the love of his life and they had 19 beautiful years together. They enjoyed trips to Kentucky horse shows, antique fairs in Stone Mountain Georgia, fall trips to the New England states and to Civil War battlefields, shag lessons and beach weekends, working in their backyard garden, watching BlueBloods, talking politics, sharing dinners with friends, and spending time with their families. Church was a huge part of their lives and they loved their Providence Presbyterian family. Both became Stephen ministers, as they shared a heart for helping others. Tom enjoyed his TGIM men’s group (and this was probably the only thing Tom ever liked about Mondays. He explained once that he had always disliked Sunday evening because he dreaded Mondays, and went so far as to ponder why - even after retirement - Mondays were still a “drag”!). After Jean’s death, Tom never felt fully happy nor complete without her. He poured himself into the study of grief in an effort to find healing; we have found legal pads filled with notes and passages and exercises to work through as evidence of Tom’s pragmatic approach and dogged determination to recover from her loss. His love for her was just too big and there was nowhere to put it all. It is a blessing that they are together again (although the always-thinking and logical Tom once opined “how is it going to work, exactly, when I get to heaven with Jean and I’m not the first of her husbands to have arrived?”). Tom was a steady and devoted presence to his grandchildren, attending all graduations, birthday parties, and other milestones. Every family gathering saw Tom leave with a paper plate of goodies to enjoy later...he had a wicked sweet tooth and shared once that his mom always made a pie when she was expecting him home, because she knew he liked to end his meal with something sweet. So we will end this with something sweet: Tom (Papa Tom, Uncle Tom), we love you so much and will carry you in our hearts always. Thank you for your steadfast love, support, encouragement, and for epitomizing and living the values we should all strive for. We hold you as a “gold standard” of men, and will always cherish our memories together. With love from all you are survived by - Sister Barbara (Marion) Bost, brother Jim Moore, stepchildren Anna (Gerald) Hunter and Shelton Raine (Susan McClellan), grandchildren Taylor (Jimmy) Lawler, John Bureau Cameron Bureau, Montana Raine, Morgan Raine, Jacob Raine, nephews Jeff (Kim) Bost, Chris Bost, Brad Moore, Hunter (Jennifer) Moore, great niece Kathryn Bost, great nephew Brady Moore, great grandson Griffin Lawler

Tributes

Tom Harte Moore

April 23, 1932 - November 29, 2021