Martin Moe Moore

Survived by his loving wife Kaarina Moore, children Jay (Marcel), Karen (Marvin), Darlene, David (Heather), Leanne (John) and eight grandchildren. Martin was born in Powell River and passed away at the age of 74. Martin attended the School of Horticulture in Niagara Falls, Ont ario and was the Superintendent of Parks in City of Powell River, Deputy Superintendent of the District of N. Van., BC, and Parks Superintendent City of N. Van until is retirement. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, September 7, 2012 at 10 a.m. at First Memorial Funeral Services Boal Chapel, 1505 Lillooet Road, N. Van., BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. To leave condolences online, visit www.mem.com

Published in Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on September 2, 2012

Eulogy: As spoken by David Moore loving son

Martin Moore - He was born, he lived and then he passed on.......................david walks away from the podium

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Okay, it wouldn't be Martin Moore's funeral if he didn't pull your leg one last time.

Good Morning Everyone:

I would first like to thank everyone for coming out to Martins memorial service a man who touched everyone he met in a special way. A husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.

When I was asked if I wanted to write this eulogy, fear struck my heart. The biggest question in my mind, how could I put down in words my feelings of love, admiration and respect for a man such as my father. Finally, I asked myself, why does it have to be my eulogy? Why can't it be our eulogy so with help from family I have put together some words that I hope will help people to remember the special and unique character that was our Martin.

By now I am sure you have clued into the fact that public speaking is not my strong point and I have read somewhere that one of the tricks to public speaking is to visualize the people in front of you naked. Well I tell you what, they need to rewrite that part because whenever I try it, there is always someone like Randy or Uncle Albert or Marcel right there front and center and it doesn't work.

Please understand it is not my intention to make light of this situation but rather to remind everyone that Dad loved a good laugh.

Born in Powell River in 1938 the youngest of 3 siblings two brothers and a sister, Dads love of a good practical joke was nurtured at a young age with brothers like Kit and Albert it was almost destiny.

When they weren't bombarding the neighborhood with evaporated milk tins full of water from a home made slingshot / catapult they always were working hard at something either fishing commercially cutting shakes or whatever it took, but we will get back to Kit and Albert and Powell River in a bit.

All through school jokes and pranks were a regular part of the day and I am sure when he graduated from Brooks High School in 1957 a collective sigh of relief went through the faculty lounge.

After graduation he applied for and was accepted into the Niagara School of Horticulture and in the spring of 1958 after a long train ride back east, was enrolled into the school and started to meet a bunch of what would turn out to be life long friends, oh yes the jokes and pranks didn't quit.

For three years that was his life coming home for breaks at Christmas and such. When he graduated in 1961 he returned to Powell River to take a job as Parks Superintendent. It was during this time he met and married my mother and me and my sister Leanne were brought into the world. When a career opportunity presented itself in the form of Deputy Parks Superintendent for the District of North Vancouver, Dad took it. Unfortunately life paths were taking different directions for my mom and dad but they were able to recognize this early and part ways with mutual respect for each other.

Dad kept on with the District until a Superintendent position opened up with the City of North Vancouver and he worked there until he retired.

In the mean time between hunting and fishing trips and playing baseball he managed to meet a very Special Lady who would turn out to be his beloved wife for 38 years. Now when I say Special I am not using the term loosely for Kaarina was bringing up three daughters on her own and doing a fine job of it. On one particular night he was picking up Kaarina to go on a date. He met the girls. Dressed in his white loafers, white pants and navy blue blazer, he was met at the door by a line of three teenage girls standing with their arms crossed giving this prospective suitor the once over. A sight that would send most men running for the hills and I have it on good authority, it worked on the ones that didn't meet the standard but Martins' smile and charisma carried him through and won him approval to pursue the courtship.

Now after the wedding, life as everybody knew it came to an end. Four women and a man in a house with one washroom, I can only imagine some of the commotion created by this. I think Old Spice and Steam will always trigger warm memories. The title of Dad was not bestowed upon Martin by marriage alone, it was earned with patience perseverance and dogged determination.

Martin taught the girls how to drive and on one expedition with Jay to Cates park, things didn't go so well and after a rather unique entrance to the park they were approached by some city workers who were going to tell them they couldn't park on the grass. Can you imagine the looks on their faces when they realized it was their boss in the car. Another example of the type of predicaments Dad could get into, but Dad said he started to notice his first gray hairs when Darlene started to drive. Waving at people with both hands when she was driving down the street.

Up to this point I have given you a brief outline of Dads life but I haven't touched on the characteristics that made Martin who he was.

From an early age hunting and fishing were a part of his life and I will always remember the annual fishing trips to Powell River. Two weeks in the summer of hardcore salmon fishing, many good laughs and memorable moments on those trips. Powell River seems to be the anchor point in Dads life. If anyone has been on more than two road trips with Dad, they would have come to the conclusion it wasn't a matter of if he met someone from Powell River, it was when and where. Because it didn't matter where he was, he always met someone who was either from Powell River or knew someone who was from Powell River. I remember when we were in Hawaii for Leanne and Johns wedding. I met up with Dad and we were going to his hotel. He got talking with someone in the lobby. I carried on up to the room. The couple with Dad an Mom piped up, said Oh he probably met someone from Powell River. I don't think this was chance but rather a testament to the fact Dad truly believed there was no such thing as a room full of strangers, but there was a room full of potential friends.l

To have Martin as a friend was a cherished thing, once befriended by him if there was anything he could do for you he would. If he found you had a need for anything. He would go out of his way to find more than you needed which I think led him to more than one trip to local flea markets and garage sales from Vancouver to Eugene Oregon. Always anxious to convey his latest score. He would start out with the phrase, Do you have a need for whatever it was he picked up for a real deal. I am sure Marcel could be the poster boy for Harbor Freight Tools.

To try and tell or recount the numerous hunting and fishing trips would take the next week so I think my favorite memory would be the telling of the story when the brothers three were together and it wasn't the story itself but rather the telling of the store with each of the brothers arguing and making sure the story was accurate.

To new comer or someone who wasn't familiar with the trio, genuine concern a full-blown fist to cuffs was about to break out was expressed.

Martin was very proud of his grandchildren, he could always tell you what each and everyone was up to and the same for his children. He was extremely proud of Kaarina and would not hesitate to show off her latest work to anyone who came to the house. His yard and garden were his pride and joy and rightfully so, I think he was the envy of the neighborhood. Of course his schooling coupled with a natural ability to grow things gave him a bit of an advantage.

Martin loved to play cards. To get two bits off him in a cribbage match was no easy task. Whether it be rummolli, black jack or a simple door prize. Dad had an uncanny luck about him. I swear, you could write your name on 10 pieces of paper and write his on one, mix them all up and his name would come out first and of course his card tricks never ceased to amaze me.

So I would hope I was able to trigger some happy thoughts of Dad that will help ease the pain and emptiness created by his loss because if you were around him and didn't get a laugh you were either weaned on a pickle or just a plain stick in the mud.

As Free Masonry and the Eastern Star were a big part of Dad's life, I will leave you with n excerpt of a Masonic lecture that I have learned.

If you see a man who quietly and modestly moves in the sphere of his life; who. Without blemish, fulfills his duty as a man, a subject, a husband and a father, who is pious without hypocrisy, benevolent without ostentation, and aids his fellowman without self-interest; whose heart beats warm for friendship, who's serene mind is open for licensed pleasures, who in vicissitudes does not despair, nor in fortune will be presumptuous, and who will be resolute in the hour of danger;

The man who is free from superstition and free from infidelity; who in nature sees the finger of the Eternal Master; who feels and adores the higher destination of man; to whom faith. hope, and charity are not mere words without any meaning; to who property. Nay, even life, it not too dear for the protection of innocence and virtue, and from the defense of truth;

The man who toward himself is a severe judge, but who is tolerant with the debilities of his neighbor; who endeavors to oppose errors without arrogance and to promote intelligence without impatience; who properly understands how to estimate and employ his means; who honors virtue, though it be in the most humble garment, and who does not favor vice though it be clad in purple; and who administers justice to merit whether dwelling in palaces or cottages;

The man who, without courting applause, is loved by all noble-minded men, respected by his superiors and revered by his subordinates; the man who never proclaims what he has done, can do, or will do, but where need is will lay hold with dispassionate courage, circumspect resolution, indefatigable exertion and a rate power of mind, and who will not cease until he has accomplished his work, and who then, without pretension, will retire into the multitude because he did the good act, not for himself, but for the cause of good!

To quote one of Dad's favorite authors: Louis L'Amour

"Till we meet again, keep your powder dry the wind in your face and the sun on your back."