Thomas "Tom" Joseph Moore Obituary (1925

Thomas Joseph Moore, age 92, died on Tuesday May 9, 2017 surrounded by his family and loved ones. After a brief illness, he passed peacefully from this life to the next with grace and dignity. Tom was born on March 6, 1925 at the old St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon to Joseph and Antoinette (Kersten) Moore. He was the seventh of eight children and was raised in Roy, Oregon, where his parents owned and operated Moore's General Merchandise. When his father died unexpectedly in 1938, he and his siblings had to step up to help his mother manage the store. After the United States entered World War II in 1941, Tom knew that he would be drafted when he turned 18.But rather than wait until that point, he volunteered for military service at age 17 so that his older brother Joe could stay home and help his mother with the store. Inspired by the brother of a teacher in Roy, Tom took an interest in flying and applied for the Army Air Corps. He was accepted and entered active duty in April 1943, shortly after his 18 th birthday. His training took place at a number of bases across the southwestern United States including Santa Ana, CA; Blythe, CA; Lemoore, CA, and finally Luke Field, AZ for Advanced Training. While he was completing several difficult maneuvers during a training test, his instructor, Lieutenant Stockton, advised him, "Decide what you are going to do and do it." Tom took heed of his advice and received his wings and Second Lieutenant bars on February 6, 1944. Lieutenant Stockton's words stayed with Tom for the rest of his life. As a pilot, Tom flew several planes including the P-40, P-39 and the Twin Engine P-38. After arriving in England, he switched to the P-51 Mustang and named his plane "Elusive Eileen" in honor of his older sister, Eileen Sorensen. He served as a fighter escort for bombing missions in the European Theater and flew over France, Germany, and Poland. After the war ended, Tom returned home in November 1945 to Portland. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Oregon National Guard and began studying business at the University of Portland. He later decided to attend law school at Santa Clara University, where he graduated with his law degree in 1950. He spent two years with the FBI after law school, but he preferred life in Oregon and decided to return home. He started as an associate at Morris & Bobbit in Portland in 1953, and in 1956 he opened his own law office. However, Tom had other motivations for returning home. While visiting Portland for his brother's wedding in 1953, he had met a beautiful woman named Mary Ellen Petrone at a social event for the Blanchet House of Hospitality. Tom always joked that he had given Mary Ellen his place in line. He was immediately taken with her, and after moving back to Portland, he tracked her down while she was working a shift at Meier & Frank. At first Mary Ellen did not recognize him, but he reintroduced himself and they began dating. They were married one year later on June 26, 1954 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Portland. Tom and Mary Ellen settled near St. Ignatius Catholic Church in southeast Portland. In 1963, they moved to Hillsboro, where Tom began practicing law with Mervin Brink. Tom and Merv worked together for 33 years. Tom was a highly respected attorney known for his depth of knowledge, efficiency and compassion for his clients. He retired from his practice in 2015 at the age of 90. Tom and Mary Ellen made Hillsboro their home and had four children: Eileen, Tom, Molly and Anne. They vacationed often at their home in Arch Cape on the Oregon Coast, where Tom loved to go deep sea salmon fishing. After dinner on the deck at the beach house, he loved to share a glass of Scotch—his favorite drink—with friends and family and tell stories about flying his P-51 Mustang during the war. Along with fishing, he enjoyed playing golf and skiing. As a young man, he summited Mt. Hood. Tom was an avid gardener and an excellent cook. On mornings in Arch Cape, he always made his signature silver dollar buttermilk pancakes. He also made delicious peach ice cream, which his family often ate with his legendary apple and bumbleberry pies. He was always willing to lend a hand in the kitchen and helped Mary Ellen make her famous ravioli. Tom and Mary Ellen enjoyed hosting parties together, and in his spare time Tom loved to read about politics and military history. He loved to travel across the globe with Mary Ellen, and together they visited Europe, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, and China. Tom was a devout Catholic who was very involved as a parishioner at St. Matthew Catholic Church, where his children attended school. He was a deeply generous man and belonged to numerous boards and charities, including the Board of Governors of the Oregon State Bar. He was a founding member of the Blanchet House and was involved in the organization for 60 years, serving as president and director. He was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings: George, Pius "Mac", Lawrence, Mary (Caruso), Joseph, and Eileen (Sorensen). Survivors include his loving wife, Mary Ellen; four children and their spouses: Eileen and Bill Reilly of Portland, Tom and Anne Moore of Bellevue, WA, Molly Moore of Beaverton, Anne Moore of Salt Lake City, UT; brother John Moore and his wife Josephine of Beaverton; six grandchildren: Alison, Natalie, Matthew, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Caroline; and many nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to the Blanchet House of Hospitality or St. Matthew Catholic Church. "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr. Pilot Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds –and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of –wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace, Where never lark or even eagle flew— And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.