Jay Herbert Moore
October 15, 1963 — July 30, 2008
Jay Herbert Moore, 44, Gallipolis, Ohio passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, July 30, 2008 while vacationing with his family in Cancun, Mexico. He was a third generation Embalmer/Funeral Director in the family owned and operated McCoy-Moore Funeral Homes, Inc., Gallipolis and Vinton. Jay was born October 15, 1963 in Xenia, Ohio, son of Herbert H. and Jean McCoy Moore, Vinton, Ohio. He married his adoring wife, Melissa Armstrong June 17, 1989 in Jackson, Ohio, and they made their home in Gallia County with two handsome sons, Jay Michael and Marcus James Herbert Moore.
He earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Rio Grande in 1985 and went on to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Xavier University, where he graduated with an A.A.S. in 1987. Jay served on the Board of Directors for the Gallipolis Kiwanis from 1981-1991, President from 1990-1991. He was chairman of the Transportation and Scheduling Committee for Governor Celeste and his Cabinet during the 1990 Bicentennial Celebration, and chaired the 1990 Bicentennial Time Capsule Committee. In 1993, he was instrumental in bringing astronaut Lt. Col. Susan Helms to Gallia County as chairman for the 1993 River Recreation Festival.
Jay was elected in 1994 to the Gallia County Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He served as Secretary of the Executive Committee in 1995, first Vice President from 1996-1998 and served as Chamber President from 1998-2000. During this time, he served on the Chamber Building Committee, Legislative Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Community Improvement Corp. In 2000, Jay received the honor of SEORC Person of the Year. His continued community involvements include being a member of the Board of Directors for the Gallia County Community Resource Committee, the Business Advisory Council for the Gallipolis City School District and the Gallipolis Developmental Center Citizens Advisory Council.
Jay was a member of the Ohio Embalmers Association and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where he served on the OFDA Legislative Committee. In addition, he was a Certified Disaster Coordinator under the National Funeral Directors Association of American and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A member of Grace United Methodist Church, he served on the Administrative Council, Stewardship Committee and as an usher. He was a member of the Vinton Masonic Lodge 131, Aladdin Temple 32nd Degree Mason by the Ancient and Accepted Order of the Scottish Rite and the Gallipolis Shrine Club.
Jay had a private pilots license and was a member of the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association of America. He also served on the Gallia-Meigs Regional Airport Authority Board and the Gallia-Meigs Regional Airport Relocation Committee.
Jay was a family man first and foremost. He loved spending time with his wife and children going to baseball games, watching his son Michael in the band, catching ball with his son Marcus and helping coach his teams and laughing each day with his wife, Missy. He loved music and playing guitar with his sons and brother, Joe and attending the Bengals games with his brothers, sons, and friends. He worked side by side with his brother, Jared, making a special team with their parents, Herb and Jean. He made each day lighter by being able to make anyone smile and make everyone around him feel comfortable with his kind words.
He is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law: Joe and Sarah Evans Moore and their children, Owen and Leia Moore; Jared and Beth Moore and their son, Broderick Moore, all of Bidwell, Ohio; father and mother-in-law, Jim and Helen Armstrong, Jackson, Ohio; brother-in-law, Randy and Patti Armstrong, Houston, Texas and sister-in-law, Sandy and James Sheatsley, Beckley, West Virginia.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, August 4, 2008 at Grace United Methodist Church, 600 Second Ave, Gallipolis with Pastors Bob Powell, Bob Hood and Pastor Marvin Sallee, officiating. Burial will follow in Vinton Memorial Park, Vinton, Ohio. Friends may call at the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home in Gallipolis Sunday, August 3 1:00-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to a scholarship fund: Jay J. Moore Memorial Fund, c/o Michael and Marcus Moore, at the Ohio Valley Bank, 420 Third Ave, Gallipolis, OH 45631.