A.P. Moore

A. P. 'John' Moore was born on February 8, 1924 at Yeager, Oklahoma and departed this life December 10, 2006 at Mercy Heart Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was born the fourth child of James T. and Mary Belle Allen Moore. He graduated from Chouteau High School in 1942 and enlisted in the US Navy to serve during WWII. John was assigned to the Destroyer USS Ralph Talbot for the duration of World War II and received ten major battle commendation awards for service in the South Pacific from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. John married Elizabeth Moore on March 8, 1946 in Rockwall, Texas, moving to Oklahoma in 1947 and establishing their home of 59 years, two 2 miles East of Sparks. They had one daughter, L. Christine. On March 9, 1996 they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with family and a host of friends in Chandler, OK John is survived by his daughter and husband, Chris and Ray Hodson of Chandler, OK; granddaughter and great-grandson, Lisa Hodson and Joshua Lewis of Edmond, OK; and grandson, wife, and great grandsons, John, Stacey, Ethan and Carter Hodson of Edmond, OK. Also, brother-in-law and wife, Ronald 'Sonny' and Phyllis Huffnear Sparks, OK; sisters-in-law and husbands, Wanda and Charles Webster ofEI Reno, OK; Mary and Eddie Porter of Mangum, OK and Anita Ward of Chandler, OK. brothers-in-law, Bruce and Doris Huff of Prague, OK, and Lawrence and Denise Huff of Cushing, OK. He is also survived by twenty-nine nieces, nephews and many other relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Moore; parents James T. and Belle Moore; two brothers, Athel and J. T. Moore; one sister and brother-in-law, Velma and LeRoy Brewer, two brothers-in-law George William Bill Huff and Roger Huff; and sister-in-law Peggy Huff Thoma. After John, his wife and baby daughter moved to Sparks, he attend Oklahoma State University to study Animal Husbandry. He bred a herd of registered Milking Shorthorns with a dream becoming reality when his prized bull 'Blue Hill Butterboy' won the Kansas City America Royal Exposition. To support raising registered animals, John began working at Sylvania Electric Plant in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1952. Sylvania closed their Shawnee Operation in 1962 and moved to Burlington, Iowa; John was offered continued employment but elected to stay on the farm and raise his cattle. When cattle prices peaked, John sold his herd and went to work for the Department of Defense at Tinker AFB until his retirement in 1984. John and his family''s great pastime was spending time at Lake Tenkiller during. the summer months. They would go to their favorite camp site at Snake Creek and spend time scuba diving, water skiing and fishing. Other hobbies included raising Polled Hereford cattle after his retirement, and later some exotic breeds. Another 'hobby' was beekeeping, and at one time his apiary consisted of three-hundred hives. He received many honey orders via US mail, simply addressed to 'The Honey Company,' Sparks, Oklahoma; clients requested honey cappings, black honey and beebread. John closed his honey business when the import market expanded. John was a member of the Sparks and Chandler Masonic Lodges, serving as Worshipful Master in 1967 and 1972. He is a Thirty-Second Degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite, Guthrie Consistory, and the Lincoln County Scottish Rite bodies. He served as Worthy Patron in the Sparks Chapter Order of Eastern Star in 1972, 1973, 1977 and 1978; served the Oklahoma Grand Chapter as Grand Escort in 1978 and as Grand Representative to Alabama in 1984 and 1985. He served many times as Grand Chapter Committee member and was awarded a Life Membership in the Order of Eastern Star in 1976. He served as President of the Woodmen of the World Lodge No. 68 in 1985 and 1986. He is a member and past Commander of Chandler American Legion Post 64. John and Elizabeth enjoyed many trips throughout the United States but home was always 'Two Miles East' of Sparks. In 1985 they received a patent to their homestead from the State of Oklahoma. His