Allan Wentworth Moore

It is with deeply saddened hearts, we announce the sudden passing of Allan Wentworth Moore,(Butter) 91, on January 14th, 2015, at Dartmouth General Hospital. He was born in Dartmouth on Dec. 22nd 1923, to the late Richard & Mary(Colbert) Moore of Dawson Street. He began his show business career at age 2, singing with his four older brothers, Reg, Norman, John and most often with Harold, as they performed as the very popular Harmony Twins until Harold’s life was cut short by WWII. Allan also fought overseas, in the army, but lived to tell the tale even after the many years he saw first hand combat and was wounded. After the war, he sang for a short time with the Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman Big Bands, but came home to help his family when his dad got ill. He was singing in the Concert Parties, entertaining for the men returning from overseas, when he met his wife of 33 years, the late Flora Montgomery Moore, a star in her own right with local fame as a comedienne singer, actress, director and adjudicator in radio, TV, film and stage. He sang for Jerry Naugler’s band in the late forties and early fifties, and then teamed up with his brother John to form the Moore Brothers’ Orchestra, with Allan on drums and vocals and John on guitar and vocals. They performed for decades, providing the local people with excellent dance music. Included in those performances, were the popular Odeon Seniors Shows, where he worked for many years, with his brother John and wife Flora. Allan was singing & playing music professionally well into his 80’s, still belting out some great tunes, including performances on the Seniors’ Expos for years with the John Alphonse Big Band. Allan was a (lifetime) member in good standing, of the Atlantic Federation of Musicians, Local 571 for 58 years and sat on the board for many years in the sixties and seventies. He worked fulltime as a civil servant for over 32 years, working his way up the ladder to become a supervisor for the Naval Armament Depot. Allan was an avid sports enthusiast, both participating and viewing, especially hockey. He was one of the initiators of joining Halifax and Dartmouth teams for playoffs and he was a local scout for the Montreal Canadians. When he couldn’t play anymore due to health concerns, he refereed and coached, sometimes with such a passion, he would spur many of his teams on to winning provincial championships and some even made trips to playoffs in Toronto. Not only was he active in hockey till well into middle age, but also in baseball, playing and umpiring, and he worked on Legion Baseball tournaments until as recently as 2004. As a veteran, he was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Somme Branch King St., Dartmouth, from 1962 to the present, and served as their president for 16 years. He worked for Provincial Command as a Zone Commander, Treasurer, and Vice President and served on the executive for Dominion Command. He helped create The Veterans’ Organization and drove around the province to visit all the hospitalized vets to see what they might need and then made calls to the private sector to get funds to buy those items, such as TV’s or comfy chairs and then delivered them, to aid in the quality of their lives. He particularly enjoyed going around to all the schools in Dartmouth in the early 1990’s to speak to the children about Remembrance Day and what Nov.11th meant, in an effort to bring people back to the services at the Cenotaph, after the attendance had dropped so low Along with a lifetime of tireless service to the Legion, Allan volunteered with other organizations such as – The Old Burial Ground, the Masons, John Albro Lodge 122, Dartmouth District Shrine Club, and many, many events for the City of Dartmouth, plus the Dartmouth General Hospital, YMCA, Emmanuel Church, and Oakwood Terrace building committees. Always a lover of people, he worked tirelessly, with commitment and dedication to make life better for his community and its people. He received many, many medals and commendations in his life for his selfless service. The most prevalent being: the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, The Rotarian Paul Harris Award, the Palm Leaf MSM and in 2010 the Federal Veteran’s Affairs Minister awarded him the Meritorious Service Medal for his exceptional work with veterans and their widows. In 2000 he was awarded the City of Dartmouth’s 250th Anniversary Award for outstanding community service. He is predeceased by his brothers Reg, Norman, Walter, Joey, and Harold, and sisters Veda, Helen and Daisy, his son David (1970), his first wife Flora (1980) and his second wife Shirley (1990). He is survived by his loving family, wife Audrey, Dartmouth, daughter Mary Ellen (Robert Fancy), Toronto, daughter Margaret (John Hollis), Florida, son Hal, Lawrencetown, brother John, Camp Hill, and his grandchildren, Eila and Wilson McLeish, Toronto. He was a tremendously giving individual to all of his numerous nieces and nephews and their families and he had a global consciousness of giving to all of his friends and anyone who came to him in need. He had creative ideas, a wonderful sense of humour and a zeal for life that always got the job done. We are encouraged and inspired to take up the torch of his example and get out and make the community a better place for our loved ones and children. His good works and wonderful story telling will be remembered and he will be greatly missed. He always said one person can do a lot and can make a huge difference in the lives of those around them. It is with the deepest gratitude that we extend our most sincere thanks to anyone\and everyone, past and present in the health care system for giving our family precious quality time with Allan that we otherwise would not have had especially Cindy Kelly and her caring staff at the Dartmouth General Dialysis Unit, DVA, and home care workers, Susan and Donna. You are simply the best. .And finally, we would like to thank everyone for their heart-felt condolences. Allan would be so honoured. We love you all.Allan was a simple and good man and an even better husband and father. “Till we meet again.” Donations in lieu of flowers to R.C.L. # 31 Somme Branch, or the charity of your choice. Visitation will be Friday, January 23rd from 6 to 8 PM and Saturday the 24th from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM with Legion Service at 7 PM. The memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 25th at 2 PM, all in A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home 217 Portland St. Dartmouth, burial at a later date. To view or place an on line condolence please visit. www.mattatallfuneralhome.com