Jarry Vernon Moore

Jarry was my father and in my eyes a great man. He was honest, ethical, hard working, and one of the few very good men I have ever known. He was incredibly self reliant and learned any skill he needed throughout his life. He taught my brother and I all manner of skills. From carpentry, masonry and plumbing, through bird hunting playing golf and shooting pool. I truly believe I never met anyone who didn’t both like and respect my father.

Jarry was the oldest son of Harry and Jetta Moore and 2nd oldest in a family of 6 children. Jarry was born at the same little hospital in Horton Kansas as the rest of his siblings. He had an older sister Nancy and the youngest was his sister Becky. He has three younger brothers, Sam, Bryce, and Marion.

Jarry grew up on a farm in Muscotah Kansas. While farming was very hard work, it also provided many good times hunting and fishing with his father and siblings. Jarry learned his hard work ethic, solid core values as well as many valuable skills he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

He attended Carbon Elementary School for grades 1 through 8. Carbon was a one room school for all the children in the area. From there he went on to Holton High School where he was a standout athlete. He lettered in Track and Field (3 years), Football (3 years) and Basketball (2 years). Jarry attended and Graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in Business Administration. He also pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity and continued his athletic career. This is also where Jarry started a life long love for playing golf. K-State is also where he met his future wife Charlotte. They met at Kites Bar & Grill in 1955 and soon became inseparable. They were married in June of 1956 right after Jarry’s senior year.

During his senior year Jarry was hired by IBM to start in June. He started training at IBM’s St Louis facility and was posted to their Tulsa OK office once complete. In Tulsa Charlotte became pregnant and my brother was born July 3rd 1957. In August of 1958 the family moved to Liberal KS where Jarry and Charlotte managed and become partners in the La Fonda Motel. During their time in Liberal I was born in October of 1959. Three years later in October 1962 the family moved to Tucson AZ to help with Steve’s asthma.

Jarry went into a financial partnership with two K-State alum's in “OHM Research” a roof coatings business. Jarry ran the business and expanded the product line. From Tucson the family moved to Phoenix in 1966 where Jarry started work for Rinchem, a chemical distribution business. During his time at Rinchem he met his future boss and friend Chuck Ribelin. In June of 1972, Jarry went to work for Ribelin Sales a paint and fiberglass raw materials distributor from Garland TX. He started a branch office in Tempe and worked together with Chuck and the rest of Ribelin Sales team for the rest of his career, 24 years. He always enjoyed a great work life and dramatically grew the Tempe office. Jarry retired December 31st 1996.

Jarry and Charlotte both loved animals especially dogs. They had great dogs all their time in Arizona. From Sydney the St Bernard in Tucson through Rosie the little poodle mix Dad had until 2020 (she now lives with Jackie and me) they were all great friends and a major part of our lives. Jarry and Charlotte also really enjoyed travel. Along with trips across the states they enjoyed Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, the Mexican Riviera and several cruises. In September of 1982 they bought their 1st old cabin in the White Mountains. They truly enjoyed the mountains and spent many summer weekends in Show Low until Jarry’s retirement. In 1999 they built a place in Sierra Pines that was finished in October. After that they spent every summer in Show Low.

In 2011 when Charlotte could no longer enjoy the mountains due to her COPD they sold their summer house and lived in Tempe full time. Charlotte passed away in May of 2014. After Mom’s funeral Dad spent almost every Tuesday night at my house for dinner. We all three looked forward to Tuesday nights where we talked, laughed and had a good time. I will miss these dinners more than anything. Tuesdays just won’t be the same.

Dad survived cancer twice, lung cancer in 1987 and prostate cancer in 2016. He was a tough old guy who’s heart and lungs just finally wore out. Jarry was preceded in death by Charlotte, my brother Steve and his older sister Nancy. He is survived by all three brothers Sam, Bryce and Marion as well as his youngest sister Becky and myself.

There are so few truly good people that losing Dad makes the world a little less. I truly hope his spirit has been reunited with Mom and Steve along with all our furry friends. Dad didn’t want a service. He felt it would just be too much for his friends and family to deal with the heat and travel of June here in AZ. As he put it, all his friends and family just aren’t spring chickens anymore. He didn’t name a charity, want flowers or any fuss. I believe he would simply want you all to be kind to each other and enjoy your lives.