James C. "Buddy" Moore

James Carrol Moore, known to all as "Buddy," was born on January 30, 1939, at home in Jollyville, Texas, to Otto and Ernestine Moore. He grew up in Round Rock, where he attended school and developed a lifelong love for sports. He played football, ran track, and carried that competitive spirit with him throughout his life. Buddy was raised alongside his older sister, Wanda, and his younger brother, Bobby--and his mom would be the first to say he showed classic middle-child traits from time to time.

He graduated from Round Rock High School and continued his education across the state, attending Abilene Christian and Tarleton State before graduating from Southwest Texas State University, now known as Texas State. He served his country as a reservist in the National Guard. While in college, Buddy met Sharon Machen, the love of his life. They were married in 1962 and began their life together in Austin while he finished school. After graduation, they moved to Rockdale, where Buddy worked for Wayne Feed. A year later, they moved to Madisonville, where he became a sales representative for Purina Feed. He then moved to Nix and coached at Lometa High School. After one year of coaching, he returned back to work with Purina Feed in Columbus. During those years, Sherri was born in Rockdale, Kerri was born in Madisonville, and Kim and Teena were born while the family lived in Columbus.

In 1971, Buddy and Sharon moved to Lampasas, where he began a long and meaningful career with Texas Farm Bureau. Buddy was a respected manager and leader, and had this role until his retirement in 1993. Through his work, he enjoyed many trips, events, and experiences--often turning them into special memories shared with his family.

Buddy was a longtime member of the First Street Church of Christ. He accepted Christ at an early age and carried that faith with him throughout his life. Jesus and the church were central to his values, and he believed deeply in faith as the foundation of family, guiding the way he loved, led, and lived.

Buddy adored his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was especially proud of his grandchildren and took great joy in his great-grandchildren, often saying they officially made him "great."

He was full of life and truly loved anyone and everyone. He never met a stranger and would talk to anyone who would sit and listen. Known for his quick wit, funny nature, smart remarks, and short, memorable sayings, he had a way of making people laugh and feel at ease.

Some of his favorite quotes summed him up perfectly: "I got up this morning, so it's great," "Hard to be humble when you're great," It's just one of those things," "If you're wearing a UT cap, you're the smartest person I know," and his classic, "That's life, babe." Those words - simple, honest, and full of humor - were exactly how he lived.

As a lifelong sports fan, he had a deep love for Badger football and proudly held season tickets for 42 years, creating countless memories in the stands and enjoying a Storms burger before every game.

He loved the simple things: he was an avid hunter and fisherman (especially loved enjoying the time with his grandkids), working in his garden, chipping flint, checking his cows at Nix, raising show pigs, going to stock shows, telling stories that always seemed to get better with time, drawing the best pictures, and cheering on Texas Longhorn football. He also enjoyed watching cattle auctions and reading the Livestock Weekly. He never met a stranger and left an impression everywhere he went.

His legacy lives on in the stories told, the lessons passed down, and the many lives he touched along the way.

He was preceded in death by infant sons: Christy Carrol and James Carrol Jr., his parents, Otto and Ernestine Moore, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Milton and Neva Machen, his brothers-in-law, Doyle Thomas, Roland Corbin, and Alfred Machen, and his sister-in-law, Avilla Corbin.

Buddy is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Moore; his daughters, Sherri Cowan and husband Joe, Kerri Latham and husband David, Kim Cummings and husband Jimmie, and Teena Smith and husband Garry; his grandchildren, Maci Cowan, Blain Latham and wife Taylor, Braden Latham and wife Caisi, Kyla Brown and husband Tanner, Kayli Brantley, Kelsi Cummings and Hernan Eufracio, Kenli Cummings, Brodie Smith, and Blake Smith; his great-grandchildren, Hayes Latham and Jay Latham (arriving soon), Fynlee, Waden, Weston, and Konlee Brown, Hernan Eufracio Jr., Burks Brantley and Jett Smith; his siblings, Wanda Thomas, Bobby Moore and wife Teresa; sister-in-law, Bobbye Machen; brother-in-law, Clifford Machen and Darlene Ward and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Special thank you to the Bluebonnet Hospice team and all of his caregivers.

Memorials may be made to the Lampasas County Youth Livestock Association. 

Visitation will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 5 pm to 7 pm.  Services will be at the First Street Church of Christ on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 2 pm with interment to follow at Nix Cemetery.