Gary Michael Moors, Major, USAF (RET)

Gary was born April 2, 1952, in North Adams, MA. He was the son of Anna M. Moors and Donald A. Moors of North Adams, MA. He attended public school in North Adams, MA, and graduated in 1970 from St Joseph High School, North Adams, MA, and in 1975 from the University of MA, (Amherst) with a degree in psychology and successfully completed the ROTC program and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Gary’s military career continued for twenty years. He then attended Munitions Maintenance Training Officer School in Denver, CO. Gary also served as a Lt. Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.

Gary’s military career included stateside: Pease AFB, NH, Minot AFB, ND, Offutt, AFB, NE, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM, and Eglin, AFB, Fl. Overseas: Araxes, AB, Greece, Incirlick AB, Turkey, RAF Upper Heyford, England, and Torrejon, AB, Spain. He held positions in various areas including munitions maintenance, logistics, and explosive ordnance disposal, and served at HQTRS Staff Strategic Command at Offutt , AFB, NE, and 16th AF Staff HQTRS Torrejon, AB, Spain. He also served as Commander of 10-3 Explosive Ordnance Squadron at Incirlick CDI, Turkey, along with numerous other TDY assignments. Gary served during the Vietnam Conflict, the Cold War and the Gulf War.

Gary earned a Master’s in Business Administration, from Troy State University. Gary completed Air Command & Staff College; Marine Corp Command & Staff College & Squadron Officer School; Chemical Weapons Orientation, Nuclear Weapons Orientation Course; Aerospace Maintenance Course; Hands-On Army Nuclear Systems Course & OJT Course & Surface Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course; along with numerous other schools and courses.

Decorations received are Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, AF Commendation Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, AF Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal & Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster, AF Overseas Long Tour with two oak leaf clusters, and AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters. Small arms expert Marksmanship Ribbon, AF Training Ribbon.

While in service, he served his military community as Catholic Parish Council President, RAF Upper Heyford, Parish Council President, Torreon AB, Spain, and Parish Finance Council President, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM. He also served as a Lector and Eucharistic minister.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Gary worked as Fleet Manager for Reliable Chevrolet, in Albuquerque, NM and store manager for Mitsubishi Motors. He also served on the Planning and Zoning Board for Rio Rancho, NM, and as President of the Enchanted Hills Homeowners Association.

Gary was devoted to God, his country, his wife Candice A Moors, and his family and friends. He expected much of himself. He lived his life with dignity and above all else, honesty. He was respected very much by people who came in contact with him. Gary enjoyed bowling, boating and fishing, playing cards and his cats Green Eyes, Lincoln, Abraham, Hawk, Gideon and Ivory. He held the rank of Colonel in Civil Air Patrol, where he was devoted to the cadets he mentored and encouraged to follow in his footsteps. Gary earned his pilot’s license as a senior member and was involved with several search and rescue missions as a squadron commander and EMT.

Gary was predeceased by his brother Kent F. Moors, PhD; he is survived by his wife Candice A. Moors of Fl., and his step-siblings: Lyndon Moors, Donna Moors, and Carol Shick, all of MA. and Stephen Moors of NY. He is also survived by his niece Alison Moors Lipshin and her husband David, and two great nieces of NJ, along with niece Jennifer Simard, of CA. and nephew Kenny Moors and his fiancé Adina Klass Johnson, of Fl., his niece Charessa Fryc, of MD, his nephew Joshua Ediza, of NV, his nephew Marine Sgt David Fryc of NC, and his sister-in-law Marina Moors of Fl, his sister-in-law Pamela Sanchez of Fl, and his brother-in-law Charles Fryc of HI, along with several other nieces and nephews and cousins and friends. He will be dearly missed by those he loved and were friends with to include his Air Force brothers and sisters whom he served beside on active duty.

Funeral services will be in the care of Merritt Funeral Home in Spring Hill, Florida. Visitation will be held from 11am to 12pm, Wednesday, March 12th, where a celebration of life will be held from 12-1 pm. Burial will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Fl. He will be committed with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to EOD Warrior Foundation, 716 Crestview Ave, Niceville, Fl, 32578, in Memory of Gary M. Moors or on Face book: EOD Warrior Foundation.

The family would also like to thank James A Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Fl, doctors and nurses and staff for their outreach of compassion during this most difficult time.