Franklin Wendell Moore

1932 - 2025

Franklin Wendell Moore, 92, of Hayesville, N.C., passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2025, after a brief series of illnesses.
Wendell was born in Hayesville on Sept. 29, 1932, to the late Harve McGinnis Moore Sr. and Delta Mae Arthur Moore.
After graduating from Hayesville High School in 1951, he attended Western Carolina University, where he played football under Coach Tom Young.
In March 1954, Wendell was drafted into the United States Army. He received his basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., his MP training at Camp Gordon, Ga., and served in the Honor Guard Unit at Fort Sheridan, Ill. His service also included overseas stations in Salzburg, Austria, and Munich, Germany. Wendell received an honorable discharge in March 1956, having attained the rank of Specialist 4.
Wendell met Eula Mae Allen of Cherokee County in 1968 while working at Four Square Community Action in Andrews. Eula was the secretary and bookkeeper in the New Careers Program, and Wendell was a community worker specializing in physical health and recreation. They wed in 1969. For the last 55 years, Wendell and Eula have been farming in the Tusquitee Valley. Although recently they have been best known for their vegetables, especially tomatoes and sweet corn, they also raise cattle and grew tobacco until 2004.
Wendell was passionate about football. For more than two decades, he was a line coach at various times for varsity, junior varsity and youth football teams. Until driving at night became difficult, he was a fixture standing at the fence during Hayesville High home games and continued to follow the standings of all the local teams. Hundreds of former players, many still in the community, have fond memories of coach Moore.
Wendell also loved nature, native plants, birds and hiking. Over his life, he made many trips to Potrock and Tusquitee Balds, the last one being in 2009 at the age of 76.
In addition to his parents, Wendell was preceded in death by eight siblings: Roy Moore, Arthur Moore, Gladys Jarrett, Quentin Moore, Harve Moore Jr., Martha Rockwell, Sara Moore and Oakley Moore.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eula Mae, and one son, Philip Wendell Moore and wife Callie, all of Hayesville. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.
A Celebration of Life is planned for 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, at Hayesville First United Methodist Church near the Square in downtown Hayesville, with the Rev. Kirk Hatherly officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Army, Hayesville VFW Post 6812, Hayesville American Legion Post 532 and Murphy American Legion Post 96.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hayesville First United Methodist Church, designating "Gathering at The Gathering Place Ministry" in the memo line, P.O. Box 85, Hayesville, NC 28904.
Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville, is in charge of all arrangements.
An online guest register is available at iviefuneralhome.com.