July 21, 1954-Dec. 6, 2017
Memorial service: Sunday, Dec. 10, Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.
William “Bill” Benjamin Moore, 63, of rural El Dorado Springs, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. Bill was born July 21, 1954, in Whittier, California, to parents Charles Felix and Mildred Louise Moore.
He attended high school in Whittier and moved with his parents to the El Dorado Springs area in 1973. On Nov. 22, 1975, Bill married Mary Diane Osburn and lived throughout their marriage on their farm south of El Dorado. They were grateful to have recently celebrated their anniversary of 42 happy and compatible years.
Bill had many interests he sustained throughout his life. Bill loved to fish; in fact, during his courtship with Diane, Bill delayed the marriage with Diane a bit to buy a john boat. With his fishing buddies, Carl Mooney, Ronnie Howell and Gene Gabriel, Bill brought home his favorite — crappie — both to fry and to stock the freezer. Watching the Kansas City Chiefs was another favorite past time for Bill. He would record the games and would save the winning games so he could watch them repeatedly.
Bill and Diane both believed in lifelong learning and shared a love of reading and music. Bill and Diane loved to listen to music at home and to live music. Bill loved to perform. He had a splendid blues and rock and roll voice. He was a gifted harmony singer and performed locally with the Blu-Roc blues band. He was an avid reader of fiction, history and political books; he loved to watch documentaries and science programs.
Bill’s interest in government and political affairs was an interest he shared with his parents and friends —engaging in many lively, and sometimes heated, discussions. Over the course of years, Bill’s conscience caused him to veer from his Republican roots and became a supporter of the Democratic party.
When Bill was 30, he returned to school to earn his registered nursing license from Ft. Scott Community College. He worked 13 years at Cedar County Memorial Hospital and also at other local hospitals. Bill’s areas of discipline included med. Surg., surgery, home health, geriatrics and his last five work years were spent providing hospice care. He was a gifted caretaker.
Bill passed away peacefully while at his doctor’s office in Bolivar, with Diane at his side. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Judy Yost.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; and his two sisters, Kerry Moore and Claudette Whitman.
The Rev. Brent Bland officiated.
Honorary pallbearers are Carl Mooney, Gene Gabriel, Mike Kiley and Ronnie Howell.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to High Hopes Memorial Fund, which provides funds to local cancer patients and their families, and left at the funeral home. Online condolence can be made at www.blandhackleman.com.
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