In Memoriam : Jay Moore

Jay C. Moore - age: 88
(November 23, 1924 to February 16, 2013 )
Resident of Exeter, California

Visitation Information:
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Evans Miller Guinn Exeter Chapel. Burial will be in the Exeter District Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to Hinds Hospice, 1416 West Twain, Fresno CA 93711. They are an amazing organizations and group of people that helped us love Jay C. all the way to heaven.

Obituary:
Jay C. Moore was born November 23, 1924 to Andrew and Artie Moore in Atkins, Arkansas. At the age of 19, across a field, he saw what he said was “the prettiest girl I have ever seen,” Ila Mae Taylor. The two soon fell in love and were married on October 23, 1944. Not long after they came to California to the small town of Exeter. In 1946 they welcomed the first of their two children, Terry Lee Moore. Two years later they welcomed their second child, Larry Jay Moore. J.C. as everyone called him started working at Waterman’s Industries sweeping floors. He always told the story of getting his job with Waterman’s with a smile on his face. He said when he first went in they turned him down for a job. He went back every single day until he said “they got tired of me coming in so they hired me to sweep floors. Most men wouldn’t do it but I had a wife and two boys to think of so I took it.” It didn’t take him long until he learned the trade of being a machinist. He worked his way up at Waterman’s with his incredible work ethic. Jay retired after working for Waterman’s for 45 years. He was never afraid of hard work, whether it was picking cotton until his hand bled to sweeping floors and running a tool crib at work. He carried that into his personal life as well. He was an amazing husband to the love of his life, Ila for 53 years. When he spoke of his boys Terry and Larry, he spoke with pride, joy and pure love. J.C. had a very happy, long life but he also suffered unimaginable heartache. When their son Larry was 19, he was killed in Vietnam, then in 1995 he lost his oldest son Terry at the young age of 48 to cancer. Not long after Terry passed, he lost his beloved Ila Mae. Not many people can suffer such loss and still be able to hold their head high, but Jay was one of those rare people. I have never met anyone like him in my life. He was the person who could light up any room when he walked in. He loved to tell jokes and would tell a new one every time you saw him and most of the time it was one you had never heard. He had a passion for gardening. Every summer you could find him in his vegetable garden in the backyard. His most prized possession in his garden was his navel orange tree. He tended to it like he did everything in life with love and gentle care. His tree is over 40 years old and still produced the sweetest oranges you have ever tasted. The other great loves of his life was Shanon, his son Terry’s only child and her two children Mitchel, age 23 and Heather, age 19. There is one thing that we know for certain, that our Papa loved us with every fiber of his being. He was the most amazing man I have ever met. It’s rare to meet such an incredible many. He was truly a blessing to anyone who met him and one of the most precious gifts that God has ever given to me or my children. As much as he will be missed we find comfort in knowing he is now with his one true love, Ila Mae in heaven and also with his boy’s Terry and Larry. I have faith that I will see my precious Papa again but until the may he rest in peach and know that his family loves him very much. He was the definition of unconditional love, he loved file and all the simple things about it. I love you Papa J.C.
Jay C. was preceded in death by his wife, Ila Mae Moore; his sons Terry Lee and Larry Jay Moore; his siblings Jessie Carr, L.D. Moore, Evelyn Moore Nowlin, Ailene Moore Huff and John Moore; and his brother in law Riley A. Taylor.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Shanon Moore-Diffey; his great grandson Mitchel Deatherage; great granddaughter Heather Deatherage; great great grandson Landon Christopher Deatherage. He is also survived by his siblings Dovie Carr Hood, Sue Moore Deal, Andy Moore, Leo Moore, James Moore, and his sister in law Faye Taylor. Jay is also survived by many nieces and nephews, family and many friends.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Evans Miller Guinn Chapel. Burial will be in the Exeter District Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansmillerguinnchapel.com. Services entrusted to Evans Miller Guinn Chapel.







KAREN HEAGGANS - February 19, 2013Contact this person Contact this person
I didn't know you very well Uncle Jay but you were loved. My mother loved you very much which made me love you too. I do remember how funny you are. Aunt Ala Mae and your sons are having a party with you in heaven and I just know momma is there too. Shannon my prayers are with you and your family and maybe someday we will meet. Love you lots, Aunt Coonies daughter, Karen


THE KIDS OF JOHN MOORE - February 26, 2013Contact this person Contact this person
THE LAST TIME WE SAW UNCLE JAY AND AUNT ILA MAE WAS AT TERRY'S WEDDING. DAD HAD CAPTURED PART OF IT ON THE OLD SUPER 8. EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY AND LOOKING GOOD, FOREVER FROZEN IN TIME. THAT'S THE MEMORIES WE WILL KEEP...HAPPY TIMES KNOWING THEY ARE ALL IN HEAVEN TOGETHER, ONCE AGAIN. LOVE AND PRAYERS, UNCLE JOHN'S KIDS


Jim Beshwate - February 27, 2013Contact this person Contact this person
I met Jay C. at the Exeter Cemetery while he was visiting his son Larry's gravesite. I knew both sons Larry and Terry and they were two of the finest men I have ever known. This is a reflection of their father Jay C. We talked at the cemetery for about 20 minutes and he seemed so at peace. A great man has left us. Bless you my dear man.


Stan Trapp - February 27, 2013Contact this person Contact this person
I my 30 years with Waterman, Jay C. was always one of my favorite persons. Always one with a ready joke, or a quick comment, he never failed brightened my day. It has been many years since I last say Jay C, but I will always remember what he used to call his "possum" smile. Although I will be away on business Friday, please accept my condolences to the family.