THOMAS WALTON MOORE, 66, died peacefully September 12, 2006, at his home in Rockport, Texas. Captain Tom, a fifth generation Texan, was born on November 10, 1939, in Dallas, Texas to John Wright Moore II and Juliette Marie Loustaunau. He graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1957. He served honorably in the United States Air Force and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, BBA in 1963. After graduation Tom worked for Tenneco and Academy Computing before joining Tel-Tex in 1969 where he served as President. In 1993 he co-founded MIS, Inc. a fiber optic cabling company, which he sold in 2000 at which time he retired to Rockport. During his retirement years in Rockport, Tom founded Fantasy Charters, a company that operates the bird-watching boat Skimmer. Tom married Patricia Marie Bennett on July 11, 1970, in Houston and raised their four children in West University Place. He served on the board of West University Little League and was President of Shamrock FUN Football. In Rockport he served on the Rockport Center for the Arts Investment Advisory Committee and the Harbor Oaks Property Owners Board. Tom loved fishing, flying, bird hunting, and yachting. He loved his many toys especially the time he spent on his motor yacht Second Fantasy. Tom's kindness, overflowing generosity, ruthless sense of humor, warm smile and twinkling eye will be remembered fondly by his many friends. Tom is survived by his wife Pat of 36 years, sons Thomas Walton Moore, Jr. and wife Darcy of Rockport, David Robert Lee Moore and wife Karolyn of Provo, UT, Anthony Morris Moore and wife Starla, and daughter Katherine Moore Jones and husband Stewart, both of Houston. He is also survived by 12 beloved grandchildren -- Neely, Kylie, Truly, Thomas, Kyle, Amelia, Brooks, Sam, Megan, Harrison, Caroline and Bennett; and brother John Wright Moore III. In lieu of the usual remembrances, the family requests memorials be made to Rockport Center for the Arts, 902 Navigation Circle, Rockport, Texas 78382 or Odyssey After School Enrichment Program, PO Box 237, Rockport, Texas 78381, or the charity of your choice. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 14, 2006 at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home, Rockport from 1:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family present to receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. A Memorial Service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Friday, September 15, 2006 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77027. Graveside services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, September 16, 2006 at LaGrange City Cemetery in LaGrange, Texas. Arrangements entrusted to Charlie Marshall Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. ROCKPORT/FULTON, TEXAS 1-800-428-2922
Published in the Houston Chronicle from 9/14/2006 - 9/15/2006.