Donald Moore

Donald F "Don" Moore, 80, passed away after a long illness March 18, 2015. Residing in Manhattan, Kansas, for the past few years, Don had a wide-ranging career. He was a native of Haskell County, Kansas, where he grew up on the farm his grandfather and father homesteaded in the early 1900's. Together with his father, they farmed, ranched and operated a machine shop serving their neighbors' machinery and fabrication needs in addition to building custom cars and hot rods.

In the early 70's, Don was a crops marketing specialist for Kansas Farm Bureau and later built and managed a popcorn plant for TV Times Foods. He worked as a large equipment mechanic in locations throughout Texas before returning to a similar enterprise in Liberal, Kansas. When he "retired," he worked part time for USDA Farm Service Agency handling special assignments in Southwest Kansas as well as similar duties around the Manhattan area.

This last chapter in his varied career was, as he put, to help support his drag racing habit. Don's other passion was rodeo; an avocation that he said was easier to compete in when he was 18 than when he was nearing 80.

Don is survived by his brother, Roy Dale and wife Louise, LaBelle, Florida; three children and spouses -- Dale Wayne Moore and wife Faith, North Beach, Maryland; Douglas Don Moore and wife Shannon, Montezuma, Kansas; and Vicki Gay Hesser and husband Troy, Spring Hill, Kansas. Six grandchildren -- Dustin Dalen Moore, Prince Frederick, Maryland; Cutter Dodd Moore, San Antonio, Texas; Stephanie Renae Unruh, Pittsburg, Kansas; Michael Edward Moore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Blade Asher Moore, Kansas City, Missouri; Brigit Leann Hesser, Pittsburg, Kansas; and seven great grandchildren -- Mia, Parry and Gage Moore, Maryland; Lyra Ohrstrom, Texas; Paige and Jace Unruh, Pittsburg, Kansas; and Atticus Moore, Missouri. He is also survived by three partners in life -- Gay Beth Moore-Briggs, Copeland, Kansas; Deborah Sharp, Longmont, Colorado; and Brenda Clarke, Manhattan, Kansas; as well as many cousins and friends of his extended family from coast to coast.

Memorial Services will be held sometime this summer on the farm he grew up on in the Copeland area.

Memorials in honor of Don can be made to The Homecare & Hospice Foundation, 3801 Vanesta Drive, Manhattan, KS 55603.