William Thomas Moore Jr.

USMC RET. Capt. William T. Moore, Jr., USMC Retired, 77, of Merriam, Kansas, went to be with his wife, Lee, in the arms of the Lord on February 25, 2012 after suffering complications from heart surgery. Tom was born June 6, 1934 to William T. Moore, Sr., and Louise Moore in Booneville, Missouri. He joined the U.S. Marines at the age of seventeen in 1951. He served honorably for 23 years in the Corps, including two tours with the Combined Action Force in the Republic of Vietnam (1964-65 and 1969-70). He retired from active duty in 1974 at the rank of Captain. Tom authored two books of Marine Corps Sea Stories; The Raggedy Ass Marines and Co-authored; Green Side Out with Major H.G. Duncan USMC. Tom was a mentor to many young Marines and was well known for his leadership lectures and Marine Corps Birthday Ball speeches. He was the consummate Marine. Tom then joined the Fairway, Kansas, Police Department. He later transferred to Roeland Park, KS, and became the Assistant Police Chief. He completed his career by going back to Fairway as the Police Chief and retired in 1996 from law enforcement. He was a 19-year member of the Metropolitan Major Case Squad. After one day of retirement, his wife suggested he get a job so he joined FEMA. He worked several national disasters including the floods in West Virginia and the Hoisington, Kansas, tornado. Tom was a tireless supporter of the Irish Freedom Struggle in the 6- occupied counties of the north of Ireland. He was a Member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Patrick Pearse Division and a long time member of The Pat McGeown Unit of Irish Northern Aid and has many friends in Belfast and Derry. He was Kansas City's Irish Poet Laureate and has written two published books of Irish political poetry. He was an active board member of the Children for Peace in Ireland Program and was very proud of the effort to promote understanding between youth of Belfast from both side of the conflict. In 1999, he was appointed an International Observer by the Lawyer's Alliance for Justice to investigate human rights abuses and observe Loyalist Parades. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and his loving wife, Lela (Lee) Moore, and his sister, Jane Klein. He is survived by his sister, Marilyn Schmidt, four children: his son, Bill Moore and wife Candi, daughter, Teri Moore, daughter, Michelle Gavin and her husband Robert, son, Michael Moore and Sweet P, three grandchildren: Tommy, Marie, and Cody Jane. Tom will always be remembered as a Father, US Marine, Police Officer, NRA Firearms Instructor, Irish Patriot, Fisherman and a friend to thousands worldwide. His was a life well lived! Visitation Wake 4-8 p.m., Rosary at 8 p.m., Thursday, March 1, 2012 at McGilley & Hoge, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204. Mass of Christian Burial 12 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2012 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Redemptorist Church, 3333 Broadway, KCMO. Burial 2:30 p.m., Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Capital Campaign of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Redemptorist Church, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111, (816) 561-3771. Please offer condolences at www.mcgilleyhoge.com. M