Gary Vincent Moore

Gary Vincent Moore December 26, 1945-January 8, 2012 Gary was born, the only child, to Charles Henry Moore Jr. and Gertrude Augusta Jackson Moore, in Jamaica, NY. He lived with his parents in Valley Stream, N.Y. until is father, Charlie got transferred to Southampton, NY as a repair man for New York Bell telephone, when Gary was 10. Charlie and Rusty (Gary's mom's nickname due to her red hair), built their own home in the woods outside of Southampton Village proper. Gary grew up with many pets: a raccoon, a deer, several dogs and cats. He attended Southampton Methodist church with his mom, his father was Roman Catholic. Gary was involved in sports, tennis being his favorite, and attended Southampton High School where he graduated in 1965. He also attended Southampton College for a short time. In Southampton, around the time Gary was about 11, he met an girl named Melissa Herrick. They became great friends. Just a few short years later their friendship turned to love. Gary left Southampton College and Melissa left Centenary Women's College, to marry on November 21, 1965. In April of 1966 their daughter Rachel was born to be followed, in April of 1971, by the birth of their son, Jonathan. Gary was a free spirit and was never one for a corporate job. While he and Melissa lived in Southampton, Gary worked mostly as a bartender. Gary was always a friendly guy who loved chatting with people. So, he continued following employment that would put him with people. When he and Melissa relocated their family to West Palm Beach, FL in 1974, Gary worked as a bartender at the Breakers Hotel and was also a private limousine driver to wealthy and often famous people. Later he would work in Real Estate and private security for home owners in Palm Beach. Gary, on top of playing tennis every chance he got, was a also a part-time tennis instructor. Tennis was Gary's main love. He made so many friends through his love of the game. Gary's other hobbies included gun collecting and shooting, learning spanish, and talking religion and politics with anyone who would lend him an ear. He had a fabulous sense of humor and really did make friends everywhere he went. Both Gary and Melissa were devoted to their kids, and grandkids. Family was everything to them and they even considered many of Rachel and Jon's friends, like they were their own kids. Since Gary's passing friends of both Rachel and Jon have expressed to them how much Gary meant to them when they were growing up. Gary and Melissa (always a team) valued people and their relationships with them most of all. They were generous to a fault and would help anyone who needed help. That is why Gary (and Melissa) were loved by many, many people. Rachel once commented that she was pretty sure her father knew everyone in Palm Beach county! When Gary was 33, he had an encounter with Jesus Christ and accepted him as his Lord and Savior. That decision, according to Gary, was the best decision he ever made, but a hard one to live. A test of that faith would come 20 years later. After moving from Palm Beach, FL to Atlanta, GA to be near his son, pregnant daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons, the love of his life, Melissa, passed away from terminal cancer at the age of 53, on Oct. 8, 2000. Ever since that day, Gary was never quite the same. He was still gregarious and generous and loved people, but the his soul mate was gone and he felt it acutely. Gary battled a severe depression that never really left him for the next 11 years, yet would not seek help for it. After Melissa's death, Gary retired and travelled the country. He spent a lot of time in Southern California where he made lasting friendships. Gary had been battling Type 2 Diabetes since his mid 40's and while in California was struck with kidney failure and put on dialysis. Deciding, a few years later, that he wanted to be back on the East Coast, Gary moved from California back to West Palm in May of 2011. Shortly after his arrival he was struck with a silent heart attack and had by-pass surgery. Gary was just really starting to enjoy being back in Florida, making new friends and reconnected with old ones, settling into a new home and looking forward to getting his life back after recovering from heart surgery, when he passed away in his sleep just two weeks after his 66th birthday. On Saturday morning, January 21, 2012, in Cleveland, GA, Gary was laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Melissa, in the presence of his children and grandchildren. Gary is survived by his son, Jonathan Edwards Moore, his daughter, Rachel Moore Ross, and his grandchildren Andrew Herrick Moore Ross (22), Benjamin Charles Ross (15), and Autumn Juliet Ross (11). Gary has also left behind a myriad of friends, who will mourn his passing as he was quite a unique individual. In remembering Gary V. Moore, keep in mind what Clarence the angel from the film 'It's a Wonderful Life' said to George Bailey, which is so appropriate to Gary's life: "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." And in that regard, Gary was a resounding success! In lieu of flowers please send donation in any amount to: National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) 1.800.950.6264 American Diabetes Association 1.800.342.2383 American Kidney Fund 1.800.638.8299 American Heart Association 1.800.242.8721 National Right to Life 1.202.626.8800 Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home & Crematory, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886-9899