Cleveland Daily Banner
April 13, 2015
James "Willis" Moore Sr., 87, died peacefully at Bradley County Nursing Home in Cleveland, Saturday, April 11, 2015.
He is survived by his son, J. Will Moore; and granddaughter, Janie Moore, both of Cleveland.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Moore Ross; and his brother, William Thomas Moore Jr.; and his beloved wife, Jane Watson Moore.
He was born Aug. 5, 1927, at Speck Hospital in Cleveland. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in business. While attending he was the captain of the university swim team.
He married Jane Burke Watson from Knoxville, moved to Cleveland, and soon began working at Moore Jewelers with his brother Tom. He later studied and became a certified gemologist with the American Gem Society. He was a lifelong devoted member of Broad Street United Methodist Church where he was baptized.
The family will be holding visitation Tuesday, April 14, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.
A memorial service will follow the visitation time at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
The family would like to extend appreciation to Paige Goforth for her efforts, care and dedication, as well as Care South Home Health Care and staff, and Bradley County Nursing Home staff.
Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist his family with these arrangements.
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By David Swafford
Willis Moore passed away, which really saddens me to hear. He was such a great person to carry on a conversation with. Only the people who really knew Willis had heard the full story of his first marriage. I was told he refused to talk about it and it upset him to talk about, so don't bring it up. We had such a great conversation, Willis, me and his son J. I broke the rule and asked Willis about the marriage to his first wife Joanna. He laughed and told me the entire story. So for those who care to read this far, this is just the basic story without a lot of details. I went in to Moore's Jewelry to talk to Willis about his sister Barbara who was chosen by Elia Kazan to help choose the locals for the bit parts in Wild River since she knew so many people in town when I asked him about his marriage. He said they were really too young to know what they were doing when they got married, but he was down in Georgia, where she was from originally, competing in a beauty contest which she won. He flirted with her til she went out with him and eventually they got married. Long story short, she entered another beauty contest in Atlanta. The winner of the contest won a trip to Hollywood. Well, she won, but Willis had to stay back in Cleveland, working at the jewelry store. While in Hollywood, she was introduced to some important movie people who invited her to a Hollywood party. She got offers for television and movies and decided that is what she wanted to do with her life. She never came back to Cleveland and left Willis standing. She met an up and coming actor named Ryan O'Neal. They ended up getting married and had two children, including another famous actress, Tatum O'Neal. So for those who didn't know, Tatum O'Neal's mother lived in Cleveland, Tn. The incredible thing to me that I pointed out to Willis and J was that what makes the story so incredible is that despite being married to Ryan O'Neal, she kept the Moore name as her stage name in honor of Willis. When we talked, he had this glow about him when he talked about her. He tried to down play it but he could name every movie and television show she had ever been in. He definitely kept up with her career throughout the years. Joanna Moore was probably most famous for her role as Andy Griffith's girlfriend Peggy on the Andy Griffith Show. Willis Moore's name will forever be in Hollywood history.
April 13, 2015
James "Willis" Moore Sr., 87, died peacefully at Bradley County Nursing Home in Cleveland, Saturday, April 11, 2015.
He is survived by his son, J. Will Moore; and granddaughter, Janie Moore, both of Cleveland.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Moore Ross; and his brother, William Thomas Moore Jr.; and his beloved wife, Jane Watson Moore.
He was born Aug. 5, 1927, at Speck Hospital in Cleveland. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in business. While attending he was the captain of the university swim team.
He married Jane Burke Watson from Knoxville, moved to Cleveland, and soon began working at Moore Jewelers with his brother Tom. He later studied and became a certified gemologist with the American Gem Society. He was a lifelong devoted member of Broad Street United Methodist Church where he was baptized.
The family will be holding visitation Tuesday, April 14, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.
A memorial service will follow the visitation time at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
The family would like to extend appreciation to Paige Goforth for her efforts, care and dedication, as well as Care South Home Health Care and staff, and Bradley County Nursing Home staff.
Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist his family with these arrangements.
------------------------------
By David Swafford
Willis Moore passed away, which really saddens me to hear. He was such a great person to carry on a conversation with. Only the people who really knew Willis had heard the full story of his first marriage. I was told he refused to talk about it and it upset him to talk about, so don't bring it up. We had such a great conversation, Willis, me and his son J. I broke the rule and asked Willis about the marriage to his first wife Joanna. He laughed and told me the entire story. So for those who care to read this far, this is just the basic story without a lot of details. I went in to Moore's Jewelry to talk to Willis about his sister Barbara who was chosen by Elia Kazan to help choose the locals for the bit parts in Wild River since she knew so many people in town when I asked him about his marriage. He said they were really too young to know what they were doing when they got married, but he was down in Georgia, where she was from originally, competing in a beauty contest which she won. He flirted with her til she went out with him and eventually they got married. Long story short, she entered another beauty contest in Atlanta. The winner of the contest won a trip to Hollywood. Well, she won, but Willis had to stay back in Cleveland, working at the jewelry store. While in Hollywood, she was introduced to some important movie people who invited her to a Hollywood party. She got offers for television and movies and decided that is what she wanted to do with her life. She never came back to Cleveland and left Willis standing. She met an up and coming actor named Ryan O'Neal. They ended up getting married and had two children, including another famous actress, Tatum O'Neal. So for those who didn't know, Tatum O'Neal's mother lived in Cleveland, Tn. The incredible thing to me that I pointed out to Willis and J was that what makes the story so incredible is that despite being married to Ryan O'Neal, she kept the Moore name as her stage name in honor of Willis. When we talked, he had this glow about him when he talked about her. He tried to down play it but he could name every movie and television show she had ever been in. He definitely kept up with her career throughout the years. Joanna Moore was probably most famous for her role as Andy Griffith's girlfriend Peggy on the Andy Griffith Show. Willis Moore's name will forever be in Hollywood history.
Cleveland Daily Banner
April 13, 2015
James "Willis" Moore Sr., 87, died peacefully at Bradley County Nursing Home in Cleveland, Saturday, April 11, 2015.
He is survived by his son, J. Will Moore; and granddaughter, Janie Moore, both of Cleveland.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Moore Ross; and his brother, William Thomas Moore Jr.; and his beloved wife, Jane Watson Moore.
He was born Aug. 5, 1927, at Speck Hospital in Cleveland. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in business. While attending he was the captain of the university swim team.
He married Jane Burke Watson from Knoxville, moved to Cleveland, and soon began working at Moore Jewelers with his brother Tom. He later studied and became a certified gemologist with the American Gem Society. He was a lifelong devoted member of Broad Street United Methodist Church where he was baptized.
The family will be holding visitation Tuesday, April 14, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.
A memorial service will follow the visitation time at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
The family would like to extend appreciation to Paige Goforth for her efforts, care and dedication, as well as Care South Home Health Care and staff, and Bradley County Nursing Home staff.
Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist his family with these arrangements.
------------------------------
By David Swafford
Willis Moore passed away, which really saddens me to hear. He was such a great person to carry on a conversation with. Only the people who really knew Willis had heard the full story of his first marriage. I was told he refused to talk about it and it upset him to talk about, so don't bring it up. We had such a great conversation, Willis, me and his son J. I broke the rule and asked Willis about the marriage to his first wife Joanna. He laughed and told me the entire story. So for those who care to read this far, this is just the basic story without a lot of details. I went in to Moore's Jewelry to talk to Willis about his sister Barbara who was chosen by Elia Kazan to help choose the locals for the bit parts in Wild River since she knew so many people in town when I asked him about his marriage. He said they were really too young to know what they were doing when they got married, but he was down in Georgia, where she was from originally, competing in a beauty contest which she won. He flirted with her til she went out with him and eventually they got married. Long story short, she entered another beauty contest in Atlanta. The winner of the contest won a trip to Hollywood. Well, she won, but Willis had to stay back in Cleveland, working at the jewelry store. While in Hollywood, she was introduced to some important movie people who invited her to a Hollywood party. She got offers for television and movies and decided that is what she wanted to do with her life. She never came back to Cleveland and left Willis standing. She met an up and coming actor named Ryan O'Neal. They ended up getting married and had two children, including another famous actress, Tatum O'Neal. So for those who didn't know, Tatum O'Neal's mother lived in Cleveland, Tn. The incredible thing to me that I pointed out to Willis and J was that what makes the story so incredible is that despite being married to Ryan O'Neal, she kept the Moore name as her stage name in honor of Willis. When we talked, he had this glow about him when he talked about her. He tried to down play it but he could name every movie and television show she had ever been in. He definitely kept up with her career throughout the years. Joanna Moore was probably most famous for her role as Andy Griffith's girlfriend Peggy on the Andy Griffith Show. Willis Moore's name will forever be in Hollywood history.
April 13, 2015
James "Willis" Moore Sr., 87, died peacefully at Bradley County Nursing Home in Cleveland, Saturday, April 11, 2015.
He is survived by his son, J. Will Moore; and granddaughter, Janie Moore, both of Cleveland.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Moore Ross; and his brother, William Thomas Moore Jr.; and his beloved wife, Jane Watson Moore.
He was born Aug. 5, 1927, at Speck Hospital in Cleveland. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in business. While attending he was the captain of the university swim team.
He married Jane Burke Watson from Knoxville, moved to Cleveland, and soon began working at Moore Jewelers with his brother Tom. He later studied and became a certified gemologist with the American Gem Society. He was a lifelong devoted member of Broad Street United Methodist Church where he was baptized.
The family will be holding visitation Tuesday, April 14, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.
A memorial service will follow the visitation time at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
The family would like to extend appreciation to Paige Goforth for her efforts, care and dedication, as well as Care South Home Health Care and staff, and Bradley County Nursing Home staff.
Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist his family with these arrangements.
------------------------------
By David Swafford
Willis Moore passed away, which really saddens me to hear. He was such a great person to carry on a conversation with. Only the people who really knew Willis had heard the full story of his first marriage. I was told he refused to talk about it and it upset him to talk about, so don't bring it up. We had such a great conversation, Willis, me and his son J. I broke the rule and asked Willis about the marriage to his first wife Joanna. He laughed and told me the entire story. So for those who care to read this far, this is just the basic story without a lot of details. I went in to Moore's Jewelry to talk to Willis about his sister Barbara who was chosen by Elia Kazan to help choose the locals for the bit parts in Wild River since she knew so many people in town when I asked him about his marriage. He said they were really too young to know what they were doing when they got married, but he was down in Georgia, where she was from originally, competing in a beauty contest which she won. He flirted with her til she went out with him and eventually they got married. Long story short, she entered another beauty contest in Atlanta. The winner of the contest won a trip to Hollywood. Well, she won, but Willis had to stay back in Cleveland, working at the jewelry store. While in Hollywood, she was introduced to some important movie people who invited her to a Hollywood party. She got offers for television and movies and decided that is what she wanted to do with her life. She never came back to Cleveland and left Willis standing. She met an up and coming actor named Ryan O'Neal. They ended up getting married and had two children, including another famous actress, Tatum O'Neal. So for those who didn't know, Tatum O'Neal's mother lived in Cleveland, Tn. The incredible thing to me that I pointed out to Willis and J was that what makes the story so incredible is that despite being married to Ryan O'Neal, she kept the Moore name as her stage name in honor of Willis. When we talked, he had this glow about him when he talked about her. He tried to down play it but he could name every movie and television show she had ever been in. He definitely kept up with her career throughout the years. Joanna Moore was probably most famous for her role as Andy Griffith's girlfriend Peggy on the Andy Griffith Show. Willis Moore's name will forever be in Hollywood history.
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