Jim Moore, devoted patriarch, public servant and Presbyterian, died Saturday, February 14, 2015, at a Portland, Oregon, hospital due to complications after hip surgery.
The native West Virginian moved to North Bend in 1979, coming from Fortuna, California, where he and wife Virginia raised their family. Jim retired in 1993 as an account representative for the State Accident Insurance Fund in North Bend. He demonstrated an amazing work ethic with the White House furniture store, Humboldt County Welfare Department and Burley Industries before joining SAIF. He applied that same work ethic to his volunteer service with people with developmental disabilities, Relay for Life and the Bay Area Kiwanis Club. He invested the most devotion to the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. at congregations in Northern California and Southwestern Oregon, serving as an elder, deacon, guest preacher, Bible study leader and numerous other tasks to support the work of the church. He grew up in the Marlinton Presbyterian Church, was a founding member of the Church of the Redeemer in Fortuna and a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in North Bend.
James Alowishus Trombishus McLaughlin Skediddlehopper Moore was born July 8, 1931, in Marlinton. He graduated from King College in Bristol, Tennessee, and served four years in the Army, stationed in Germany during the Korean War. Jim and Virginia were married in 1954 in her hometown of Atlanta. Jim and Virginia moved to Northern California in 1955, and established roots in large part on their property on Bear River, which Jim considered his shangri-la.
He loved gardening, tending fruit trees, maintaining the cabins and working around the orchard.
Upon retirement, Jim and Virginia traveled to see family in West Virginia, Virginia and Georgia, and took part in Elder Hostels in several destinations, including Scotland, Wales and France.
Jim cherished his family and supported his loved ones in all their endeavors. His singing often would rise above others in the congregation at church, and his grand guffaws would eclipse his family and friends gathered in the cabin at Bear River.
Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years; two daughters, Mary Ann Buffum, and husband, Dennis, and Elizabeth, and husband, Paul; two sons, Steven, and wife, Tamara, and Tom, and wife, Marilyn; seven grandchildren, Carly and Curtis Buffum, Nathan and Caitlin Moore, Brandon Bellanca, Taryn Moore and Melody James Bareilles; and two great-grandchildren, Mya and Hope Smith.
A service celebrating Jim’s life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 21, at First Presbyterian Church of North Bend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Jim’s name to the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church of North Bend.
The family takes solace in knowing Jim already has heard the words “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
