By Jim Meridith
Posted: Updated:
12 Comments
  • Visitation

    Saturday, May 22, 2021

    4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

    and Sunday, May 23, 2021

    from 1:00 to 2:00 pm

    Moravian Church, West Salem, IL.

  • Service

    Sunday, May 23, 2021

    2:00 pm

    Moravian Church, West Salem, IL.

  • Full Obituary

    G. Thomas “Tom” Moore, 77, of West Salem, IL died Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at Carle Richland Hospital in Olney, IL.

    He was born April 2, 1944, to George and Geneva “Babe” (Walker) Moore, in Olney, IL. On April 8, 1975 he married Kay Boewe at the Moravian Church in West Salem, IL.

    Tom was a member of the Moravian Church in West Salem.   He worked at Champion Laboratories for 35 years retiring in 2006 as Plant Manager.

    Tom proudly served in the U.S. Navy from January 28, 1963 to April 7, 1967 as an airborne radar/sonar/ECM operator.  He later became an anti-submarine warfare technician.   Initially, Tom was assigned to Airborne Early Squadron One (VW-1), based at NAS Agana, Guam.  He became a member of the Crew 5 “Good Guys” on the EC-121K Super Constellation type aircraft and flew radar coverage for the 7th Fleet in the Vietnam area.  Tom’s next assignment was with Seaplane Squadron 40 (VP-40), which flew Martin Marlin SP-5M seaplanes out of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.  The duty of this squadron was to assist in Operation Market Time, which was the longest running operation in the Vietnam War, and dealt with patrolling the entire seacoast of Vietnam at low altitudes. He was one of the crew members of the last P5 mission in a combat zone in March 1967.  Tom accumulated over 2,000 hours of flight time in military aircrafts and spent a total of 26 months in four deployments in the Vietnam theatre.

    He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan. He was a family man and one of his greatest joys was following and watching his children and grandchildren in all their activities. He loved to garden, play golf and checked off mowing the grass at the golf course from his bucket list. Tom played in a band, The Nightshift, playing bass guitar and sang backup vocals. He enjoyed being the announcer at the baseball games at the West Salem baseball fields for many years and was the Emcee for the 4th of July Fireworks celebration, West Salem Chowder and Homecoming parade, the West Salem 5k, and multiple auto shows.

    Tom was preceded in death by his parents, George and Geneva Moore.

    He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Kay Moore; four children, daughter, Tamara (Bill) Humphrey, son, Steven (Kelly) DeMier, daughter, Kayla Roosevelt, son, Tommy (Leah) Moore; 12 grandchildren, Brandan (Sara) Jasinski, Taylor (Storm) Kollak, Tyler Wood, Braeden Sanders, Tristan Wood, Brayden DeMier, Avery Roosevelt, Connor Moore, Tyce Moore, Bailey DeMier, Tiffany Wood, and Drew Roosevelt; three great-grandchildren, Zurich, Clara and Charlotte Jasinski; brother, Ron (Denise) Moore; three sisters-in-law, Rose (Don) Fielden, Michelle (Danny) Iverson, Dawn Deshotel; four brothers-in-law, Larry (Ginger) Boewe, Darby (Tanya) Boewe, Mike (Tami) Boewe and Shawn Boewe.

    Memorials may be made to the Moravian Church Cemetery and the West Salem Athletic Association

    Visitation: Saturday, May 22, 2021, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and Sunday, May 23, 2021, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at Moravian Church, West Salem, IL.

    Funeral: Sunday, May 23, 2021, at 2:00 pm, Moravian Church, West Salem, IL.

    Interment: Moravian Cemetery, W. Salem, IL.

    Ingram Meridith Funeral Home, West Salem, IL.

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

12 Condolences
 
  1. Ann & Gary Wood / May 19, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    Certainly enjoyed knowing Tom and working with him for so many years and will miss seeing him around. Such a wonderful man and proud veteran. Prayers for Kay and family from Ann & Gary.

  2. Daniel Doyle / May 19, 2021 at 10:55 pm

    We had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Tom while he was visiting family here in Florida. He quickly became part of our family and was “Papa Tom” to my son. He is loved and will be missed dearly. Danny, Jennifer and Ian Doyle.

  3. Bruce Berry / May 20, 2021 at 9:55 am

    So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. I enjoyed working with him for many years and it was a pleasure knowing him. Prayers for Kay and family.

  4. Francine Howard / May 20, 2021 at 11:11 am

    So sorry to hear of Tom passing. Saying prayers to comfort his friends and family

  5. Al Yellig / May 20, 2021 at 11:24 am

    I had the pleasure of working Tom for about 30 years. We played golf together on almost every Thursday in the Champ summer league. He will be missed by me and many other people. I pray for his family in this time of their loss.

  6. Ruth Temple / May 20, 2021 at 12:10 pm

    So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing! Kay and family, you have our sympathy!

  7. Gregory Pixley / May 20, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    So sorry to hear about Tom’s passing. I worked with him at Champ and also enjoyed his company at the Thursday’s night Champion golf league. ⛳ He was always friendly and very good-natured. He was also partial to the recording of “Rabbit Slayer” by Elmer Fudd which I played to him on his phone one morning at work. What a joy he was to be around and I will miss him greatly. Prayers and Condolences to his wife and family.

  8. Lannie Hayes / May 20, 2021 at 7:06 pm

    Kay, you and your family are in our prayers…Tom was such a pleasant man, always a smile and kind word. Was always glad to run into him around town. I know he will be missed
    Lannie Hayes and family

  9. John Evans / May 20, 2021 at 11:37 pm

    I had the good fortune to work with Tom many years at Champ. He was a great guy!

  10. Chuck and Barb Roberts / May 22, 2021 at 7:12 am

    Sincere sympathy to the entire family. At the Richland Country Club, he was always such a kind guy, and updated us on Kayla and family. He will be missed.

  11. Curtis Ingram / May 22, 2021 at 3:38 pm

    Sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. All Veterans have a love of God,Country and Family that can’t be compaired.
    You have our sympathy
    Curtis & Dolores Ingram

  12. louella kortge / May 25, 2021 at 12:31 am

    Was a pleasure to work for him and him and Kay was always so friendly and we never thank someone like him enough for serving his country and Kay to you and your family John and i send our thoughts and prayers of comfort as you cherish your memories of your loved one

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