John Hayes Moore - Personal History and Tributes, March 18, 1987
John Hayes Moore is a member of our Seventh Ward High Priest Group and is presently serving as my first Counselor in our High Priest Group Leadership. He is a man of unquestionable integrity, a man of great faith and deep religious conviction and a knowledgeable student of the scriptures. John is a good man to know. I ask him to write a brief personal history so that we may all become better acquainted with John the man. Frank D. Roberts—High Priest Group leader
I was born December 20, 1919. My father was Walter Harvey Moore and my mother was Rachel Eleanor Hayes. Both parents were of early Utah heritage.
I spent my growing up years in the town of my birth, Spanish Fork, Utah. My father owned and operated what was commonly called a blacksmith shop, although my father was a master of many trades. He was a master of forge work. He was a welder also with acetylene and the electric arc. He was a wagon maker, and built many original tools for the farmers when they came to him with their special needs. I grew up in the shop learning many of the skills of the shop.
I attended elementary school at the Thurber and Central schools. I also attended Spanish Fork Junior High and High Schools, graduating in the spring of 1938. My last two years of high school my father was disabled with a disease that was never really diagnosed, but it was so destructive to his body that as he recovered he had to learn to walk again.
During this period, after school and on weekends, I operated my fathers’ shop picking up what money I could to help our family cause. We survived with this, a large family garden, some cows and a few sheep to be butchered each year. At an early age I also learned to butcher and dress sheep.
My Dad had a small coal yard in connection with his shop. Besides working in his shop, I delivered coal in a horse drawn wagon. This also helped to supplement our family income during his illness.
After finishing 6th grade I had a desire for some musical experiences. My parents purchased a used trombone for my use. I had many years of pleasure with that, playing in the school band and orchestra and also picking up some extra income playing in a dance band through my junior year in college. I also won Superior ratings in solo contests at music festivals in Price, Provo, and Logan.
I began my career as an agent for State Farm Insurance during my senior year in high school, and continued during three years in college, except for a summer in Washington, D.C., my mission and army service, my entire life since has been spent following this career. June of 1987 will complete my 43rd year as a representative of State Farm Insurance Company.
My parents were very insistent that their children get as much education as possible. Even during the years of my Dad’s illness they inspired their children to find ways to continue college. As a result, all six of their children graduated with a bachelor’s degree. My brother continued and fulfilled his dream of becoming medical doctor.
After my junior year at BYU, I accepted employment as a detail clerk at the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. At the end of the summer I returned home to Spanish Fork to prepare to serve a mission for the church. In January of the following year (1942) I left to serve a two year mission. I had a most wonderful mission, seeing literally fulfilled, a promise in my patriarchal blessing that I would have the opportunity to baptize those to whom I had taught the gospel. This was most rewarding. I served in the Eastern States Mission.
Returning from my mission in 1944 I found my draft board ready to draft me into the Army. I was inducted at Fort Douglas, Utah and sent to Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Virginia for basic training. There I was set apart as a LDS Group Leader with the responsibility to locating and bringing together LDS servicemen for the fellowshipping and learning. This gave me many wonderful opportunities.
After 11 weeks in basic training I entered the Quartermaster Officer Candidate School, graduating from there on November 24, 1944 as a second lieutenant. Until May of 1945 I served with the black troops at Fort Warren, Wyoming, as a basic training officer. In June 1945 I was sent to the island of Mindanao with the 41st division preparing for invasion of Japan. Fortunately for many thousands, that invasion became unnecessary with Japanese surrender in August 1945. In October of 1945 my unit landed with others at Kure, Honshu, Japan, as part of the U.S. occupation force where I served until my release from the army in September 1946.
Four years later I felt it was wisdom to be active in the army reserve which I did until January 1966; during that period, I lived in Salt Lake City. Also during this period, I transferred to the Chaplain branch and left the service with the rank of Lt. Col.
During my war years I married. Unfortunately, after 15 years this marriage ended in divorce. Three sons were born to this marriage—Preston John, Richard Howard, and Craig Allen. I rejoice that they are all active in the church and we still have a close relationship with them.
Shortly after my divorce, a mutual friend from the Army Reserve introduced me to my present sweet wonderful wife, Joe Anne Paul Van Leeuwen. The decision to put two families together and start a new one was difficult, but after 4-year courtship on November 12, 1964, we were joined together in the Salt Lake Temple. She brought to our marriage three other sons just as wonderful as mine—Kirk, Spencer, and Joel Van Leeuwen. To these six sons she has added two more—David John, who is in the missionary Training Center, headed for Argentina, and Michael Reid who is a junior at Skyline High School. Two more wonderful sons I cannot imagine than David and Michael.
Our married life has been lived entirely in the East Millcreek 7th Ward as we have resided at 3469 Santa Rosa Drive. During this period, I have served as statistical Clerk, Ward Clerk, Sunday School Teacher, Scouter and twice as an assistant I the High Priest Group Leadership. Also during this time, I have filled a second stake mission, and twice served extended terms as a veil worker in the Salt Lake Temple.
Putting two families together and adding another has been full of challenges. Thanks to the great love and determination of my beloved wife, JoeAnne, and much help from the Lord we are making it work. All six of our married sons are married in the temple, and all are active in the church. They have blessed us with 16 grandchildren. My greatest joy in this life is my beloved wife and our children, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the hope of salvation in the Celestial Kingdom with each other and our posterity.
John H. Moore.
MY HUSBAND JOHN MOORE
John is a very kind and considerate man. He always treats others with respect and has an honest reverence for life. He is a wonderful husband and father and is always looking for ways to give his family the proper kind of support both spiritually and physically. John has a great love of the Lord, and has keen sense of his responsibility as a husband and father. He has always looked for ways to help our family to live closer to the Lord. He has inspired our children to read and study the scriptures. Also to build personal testimonies and a relationship with their Heavenly Father.
He is very dedicated in everything he does whether it be in his home with his family, in his business working with his staff or clients or in his church callings. He loves the out of doors. He likes to hike and be close to nature. His needs are very simple and he is very easy to please. John has a great respect for his ancestors and a desire to make a good contribution personally to his family line.
I love him very dearly and he helps to make my opportunities as a wife and mother enjoyable and fun. He helps me to keep my sights on the greatest blessings—that of living worthy to return to our Heavenly Father, and being worthy of eternal progression. What a great blessing to be his wife.
Joe Anne Moore
I was born December 20, 1919. My father was Walter Harvey Moore and my mother was Rachel Eleanor Hayes. Both parents were of early Utah heritage.
I spent my growing up years in the town of my birth, Spanish Fork, Utah. My father owned and operated what was commonly called a blacksmith shop, although my father was a master of many trades. He was a master of forge work. He was a welder also with acetylene and the electric arc. He was a wagon maker, and built many original tools for the farmers when they came to him with their special needs. I grew up in the shop learning many of the skills of the shop.
I attended elementary school at the Thurber and Central schools. I also attended Spanish Fork Junior High and High Schools, graduating in the spring of 1938. My last two years of high school my father was disabled with a disease that was never really diagnosed, but it was so destructive to his body that as he recovered he had to learn to walk again.
During this period, after school and on weekends, I operated my fathers’ shop picking up what money I could to help our family cause. We survived with this, a large family garden, some cows and a few sheep to be butchered each year. At an early age I also learned to butcher and dress sheep.
My Dad had a small coal yard in connection with his shop. Besides working in his shop, I delivered coal in a horse drawn wagon. This also helped to supplement our family income during his illness.
After finishing 6th grade I had a desire for some musical experiences. My parents purchased a used trombone for my use. I had many years of pleasure with that, playing in the school band and orchestra and also picking up some extra income playing in a dance band through my junior year in college. I also won Superior ratings in solo contests at music festivals in Price, Provo, and Logan.
I began my career as an agent for State Farm Insurance during my senior year in high school, and continued during three years in college, except for a summer in Washington, D.C., my mission and army service, my entire life since has been spent following this career. June of 1987 will complete my 43rd year as a representative of State Farm Insurance Company.
My parents were very insistent that their children get as much education as possible. Even during the years of my Dad’s illness they inspired their children to find ways to continue college. As a result, all six of their children graduated with a bachelor’s degree. My brother continued and fulfilled his dream of becoming medical doctor.
After my junior year at BYU, I accepted employment as a detail clerk at the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. At the end of the summer I returned home to Spanish Fork to prepare to serve a mission for the church. In January of the following year (1942) I left to serve a two year mission. I had a most wonderful mission, seeing literally fulfilled, a promise in my patriarchal blessing that I would have the opportunity to baptize those to whom I had taught the gospel. This was most rewarding. I served in the Eastern States Mission.
Returning from my mission in 1944 I found my draft board ready to draft me into the Army. I was inducted at Fort Douglas, Utah and sent to Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Virginia for basic training. There I was set apart as a LDS Group Leader with the responsibility to locating and bringing together LDS servicemen for the fellowshipping and learning. This gave me many wonderful opportunities.
After 11 weeks in basic training I entered the Quartermaster Officer Candidate School, graduating from there on November 24, 1944 as a second lieutenant. Until May of 1945 I served with the black troops at Fort Warren, Wyoming, as a basic training officer. In June 1945 I was sent to the island of Mindanao with the 41st division preparing for invasion of Japan. Fortunately for many thousands, that invasion became unnecessary with Japanese surrender in August 1945. In October of 1945 my unit landed with others at Kure, Honshu, Japan, as part of the U.S. occupation force where I served until my release from the army in September 1946.
Four years later I felt it was wisdom to be active in the army reserve which I did until January 1966; during that period, I lived in Salt Lake City. Also during this period, I transferred to the Chaplain branch and left the service with the rank of Lt. Col.
During my war years I married. Unfortunately, after 15 years this marriage ended in divorce. Three sons were born to this marriage—Preston John, Richard Howard, and Craig Allen. I rejoice that they are all active in the church and we still have a close relationship with them.
Shortly after my divorce, a mutual friend from the Army Reserve introduced me to my present sweet wonderful wife, Joe Anne Paul Van Leeuwen. The decision to put two families together and start a new one was difficult, but after 4-year courtship on November 12, 1964, we were joined together in the Salt Lake Temple. She brought to our marriage three other sons just as wonderful as mine—Kirk, Spencer, and Joel Van Leeuwen. To these six sons she has added two more—David John, who is in the missionary Training Center, headed for Argentina, and Michael Reid who is a junior at Skyline High School. Two more wonderful sons I cannot imagine than David and Michael.
Our married life has been lived entirely in the East Millcreek 7th Ward as we have resided at 3469 Santa Rosa Drive. During this period, I have served as statistical Clerk, Ward Clerk, Sunday School Teacher, Scouter and twice as an assistant I the High Priest Group Leadership. Also during this time, I have filled a second stake mission, and twice served extended terms as a veil worker in the Salt Lake Temple.
Putting two families together and adding another has been full of challenges. Thanks to the great love and determination of my beloved wife, JoeAnne, and much help from the Lord we are making it work. All six of our married sons are married in the temple, and all are active in the church. They have blessed us with 16 grandchildren. My greatest joy in this life is my beloved wife and our children, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the hope of salvation in the Celestial Kingdom with each other and our posterity.
John H. Moore.
MY HUSBAND JOHN MOORE
John is a very kind and considerate man. He always treats others with respect and has an honest reverence for life. He is a wonderful husband and father and is always looking for ways to give his family the proper kind of support both spiritually and physically. John has a great love of the Lord, and has keen sense of his responsibility as a husband and father. He has always looked for ways to help our family to live closer to the Lord. He has inspired our children to read and study the scriptures. Also to build personal testimonies and a relationship with their Heavenly Father.
He is very dedicated in everything he does whether it be in his home with his family, in his business working with his staff or clients or in his church callings. He loves the out of doors. He likes to hike and be close to nature. His needs are very simple and he is very easy to please. John has a great respect for his ancestors and a desire to make a good contribution personally to his family line.
I love him very dearly and he helps to make my opportunities as a wife and mother enjoyable and fun. He helps me to keep my sights on the greatest blessings—that of living worthy to return to our Heavenly Father, and being worthy of eternal progression. What a great blessing to be his wife.
Joe Anne Moore
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