David E. Moore

David E. Moore, a man of strong opinions and deep love for the people and things he cared about, died unexpectedly on May 5th, 2025. Born on May 24th, 1965, to Joyce Graves (neé Bushey) and Ellsworth Moore, he lived simply but deliberately, with a genuine appreciation for good company and long conversation. His life was marked by the hum of car engines, the warmth of dogs at his feet, and the steady rhythm of routine.
David grew up in Swanton, Vermont alongside his siblings, Susan and Kristina, and later his stepsiblings, Kelly and Kurt. Winters, for a time, were spent at Camelback Ski Resort in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, where his father was a ski instructor. As a child, David was a scrawny, "all-American little boy" who loved catching frogs, hunting, and moving as fast as possible, all qualities that would later be seen in his children and grandchildren. He was popular and made friends easily, the oldest of whom may remember flipped vans at Rush concerts or starting a housefire with hot dogs. After graduating from Missisquoi Valley Union High School in 1983, "Sparky" (as he was known to friends) worked for his father selling cars, eventually taking over the family dealership. Over his forty-year career, David sold thousands of vehicles and was an esteemed pillar of the St. Albans business community.
David loved motorcycles, basset hounds, black pepper, and a well-vacuumed floor. He surrounded himself with photos of loved ones and called his mother often for recipes. He was a proud and complicated father to three children – Jessica, Jacob, and Abigail – whom he raised with humor, stubbornness, and deep, undeniable care. He was a grandfather who, despite living hours away, loved Oliver, Brady, Nico, and Murphy with a full heart. His temper was real, as were his apologies. And while he was terrible at remembering birthdays and holidays, he never missed a chance to say "I love you" or tell you he was proud. He was always trying, always learning, and never stopped loving.
He is survived by his children, Jessica Wright (Kevin), Jacob Moore, and Abigail Moore (Daija Macahilas), his grandchildren, his siblings Susan Smith (Steve) and Kristina Anderson (Trey), his stepsiblings Kelly Hall (Jeff Hubbard) and Kurt Hall (Elizabeth), his parents Joyce Graves (Dennis Havey) and Ellsworth Moore (Lynn), and the mother of his children, Ann Berno-Browning (Sean).
He is predeceased by his grandparents, Dorothy (neé Young) and Clifton Bushey and Eloise Littlefield (neé Tewksbury) and Donald Moore, his stepmother Margaret "Bunny" Moore (neé Selby), and his beloved basset hounds Sophie, Oscar, and Wyatt, who surely greeted him with wagging tails and loud, happy barks.
David was a man who loved, struggled, and inspired. He will be missed fiercely and remembered honestly by those closest to him.
Friends, family, and community members who wish to honor David are invited to a Celebration of Life at The Abbey, Route 105 in Sheldon, Vermont on Saturday, May 24th from 1-3pm.
Assisting the Moore family is the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolences are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.