Leon Moore

(June 20, 1925 - May 1, 2014)

After a long life of 88 years, Leon Moore died from natural causes on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at his home in Spokane, Wash. Leon was born to Marvin and Cora Moore June 20, 1925, in Era, Texas.

Like many of the brave young men of his generation, Leon chose to serve his country during World War II by joining the U.S. Navy and serving as an electrician’s mate on the aircraft carrier Nehenta Bay from 1943 until his honorable discharge in March 1946.

Leon then moved to Powell, where he met Velma Gillett, whom he married in Casper on Dec. 18, 1948.  

Leon worked in the oil industry as a seismograph technician and drilling-mud engineer until he retired in 1982.

His greatest passion in life was music. Leon was a self-taught stand-up bass and harmonica player, and well-known for his beautiful singing voice. These talents were complemented by his dynamic personality and sense of humor. He also enjoyed seeing and restoring Model A automobiles.  

He is survived by Velma, his wife of 65 years; son Ed Moore of Missoula, Mont.; daughter and son-in-law Carol and Jan Willis of Spokane, Wash., who helped Velma provide loving care for him as his health failed; grandson Sean Satake of Missoula; granddaughters Ashley Crawford and Summer Hadfield of Bellingham, Wash.; three great-grandsons, James and Nathan Hadfield of Bellingham and Jack Satake of Missoula; and sister Beth Ford of Kansas City, Mo.

Local services will be held for Leon at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Thompson Funeral Home, 111 W. Third St. He will be interred at Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell with full military honors.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to hospice in Spokane, Wash.