08/04/2008

Jay Herbert Moore

July 30, 2008

OFDA received word this morning that Jay Herbert Moore, 44, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, July 30, 2008 while vacationing with his family in Cancun, Mexico. He was a third generation Embalmer/Funeral Director in the family owned and operated McCoy-Moore Funeral Homes, Inc., Gallipolis and Vinton.

Jay was born on October 15, 1963, son of Herbert H. and Jean McCoy Moore. He married his adoring wife, Melissa Armstrong on June 17, 1989 and they made their home in Gallia County with two handsome sons, Jay Michael and Marcus James Herbert Moore.

He earned a B.S. degree in Secondary Education from the University of Rio Grande in 1985, and went on to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Xavier University, where he graduated with an A.A.S. in 1987.

Jay served on the Board of Directors for the Gallipolis Kiwanis from 1981-1991, president from 1990-1991. He was chairman of the Transportation and Scheduling Committee for Governor Celeste and his Cabinet during the 1990 Bicentennial Celebration, and chaired the 1990 Bicentennial Time Capsule Committee. In 1993 he was instrumental in bringing Astronaut Lt. Col. Susan Helms to Gallia County as a chairman for the 1993 River Recreation Festival.

Jay was elected in 1994 to the Gallia County Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He served as Secretary of the Executive Committee in 1995, first Vice President from 1996-1998, and served as Chamber President, 1998-2000. During this time he served on the Chamber Building Committee, Legislative Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Community Improvement Corp. In 2000, Jay received the honor of SEORC Person of the Year. His continued community involvements include being a member of the Board of Directors for the Gallia County Community Resource Committee, the Business Advisory Council for the Gallipolis City School District, and the Gallipolis Developmental Center Citizen s Advisory Council.

Jay was a member of the Ohio Embalmers Association and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where he served on the OFDA Legislative Committee. In addition, he was a Certified Disaster Coordinator under the National Funeral Directors Association of America and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A member of Grace United Methodist Church, he served on the Administrative Council, Stewardship Committee and Usher. He was a member of the Vinton Masonic Lodge 131, Aladdin Temple 32nd Degree Mason by the Ancient and Accepted order of the Scottish Rite, and the Gallipolis Shrine Club.

Jay had a private pilot license and was a member of the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association of America. He also served on the Gallia-Meigs Regional Airport Authority Board as well as the Gallia-Meigs Regional Airport Relocation Committee.

Jay was a family man, first and foremost. He loved spending time with his wife and children going to baseball games, watching his son Michael in the band, catching ball with his son Marcus and helping to coach his teams, and laughing each day with his wife, Missy. He loved music and playing guitar with his sons and brother, Joe, and attending Bengals games with his brothers, sons, and friends. He worked side by side with his brother Jared, making a special team with their parents Herb and Jean. Jay made each day lighter, by being able to make anyone smile and make everyone around him feel comfortable with his kind words.

In addition, he is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law: Joe and Sarah Evans Moore and their Children; Owen and Leia Moore; Jared and Beth Moore and their son Broderick Moore, all of Bidwell Ohio; Father and Mother-in-law Jim and Helen Armstrong of Jackson, Ohio; brother-in-law Randy and Patti Armstrong of Houston, TX, and sister-in-law, Sandy and James Sheetsley of Beckley, WV.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00am Monday August 4, 2008 at Grace United Methodist Church, 600 Second Avenue, Gallipolis. Burial will follow in Vinton Memorial Park, Vinton, Ohio. Friends may call at the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home in Gallipolis on Sunday August 3, from 1pm till 8pm.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to a scholarship fund: Jay H. Moore Memorial Fund, c/o J. Michael and Marcus Moore, set up at Ohio Valley Bank, 420 Third Avenue, Gallipolis, Ohio 45631.

Condolences may be emailed to www.timeformemory.com/mm .