MOORE

 John Hoffman “Johnny” Moore, Jr. was born in a farm house on the Moore family home place 15 miles north of Mt. Vernon, Franklin County, Texas on Nov. 15, 1933, being the third son of Mary Clifton and John Hoffman Moore. He lived a full life of almost 83 years, mostly in East Texas and departed this life to be with his Lord and Savior the early morning hours of Easter Sunday, March 27, at Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview, after a long and hard fought battle with cancer. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, a sister-in-law, Judy Williams Moore, and a great-nephew, Jared Malone Alsobrook.

Johnny grew up on the family farm north of Mount Vernon and attended the Mount Vernon public schools during the World War II years. After the War, his father, Hoffman acquired the local Ford Dealership and moved the family “off the farm and into town” in Mount Vernon. Johnny was a fun loving person, being well liked and much admired by all. He was a bright student and a good athlete. He played football under the legendary Texas Sports Hall of Fame Coach “Catfish” Smith. His freshman year in high school, 1947, his football team went undefeated with his oldest brother Dewey at center, his brother Dale at quarterback and Johnny alternated playing half-back and guard. His Mount Vernon Tigers back to back championship teams over four years racked up 43 wins and only 3 losses. Johnny is mentioned or his performance is highlighted on no less than 23 pages of Glen Onley’s book, Coach “Catfish” Smith and His Boys. Johnny was offered a full scholarship to play football at Southern Methodist University after graduating from Mount Vernon High School in 1951. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Dale, his freshman team at SMU also went undefeated.

During his sophomore year at SMU he was forced to give up playing football in college due to multiple concussions he sustained in games and in practice. Although SMU agreed to honor his full scholarship, he left SMU for the U. S. Marine Corps and received an Honorable Discharge. He then entered The University of Texas at Austin where he earned a Business Degree in Accounting. He subsequently passed the CPA exam on the first round and became a Certified Public Accountant. He set up a CPA practice in Longview and eventually relocated his practice and settled in Daingerfield. During his career as a CPA, he also managed the Moore Family dairy farm and later served as the Franklin County Auditor while living in Mount Vernon. He was also elected to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Johnny was a resident of Daingerfield with his wife, Jean, for the past 36 years. His favorite sport was golf, in fact he loved golf. Many of his friends joined him on the golf course. Before the days of cell phones, if you couldn’t find Johnny at home or at the office, he was likely on the golf course. Johnny’s other passion was his disciplined and dedicated study of God’s Word. He became a true believer in Christ in his early thirties and since that time studied the Bible daily. He was an avid reader of good books and theological articles whereby he accumulated a library of theological writings, sermons and tape recordings from prominent teachers and authors. He was a member and regularly attended Grace Bible Church in Longview for many years.

Johnny understood the temporal nature and mortality of this life and anticipated his immortal and incorruptible body as promised in the Scriptures. He therefore donated his body for medical science and research to the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School.

Johnny was married for almost 35 years to Jean Sutton Moore. They were loving, fun filled and happy times. Johnny and Jean were a devoted couple and seldom ever apart.

Johnny was admired and respected and had many friends. Everyone who met him loved him and Johnny certainly loved all his family and friends. He was devoted to his family and faithfully visited them in sickness and in health.

Johnny is survived by his beloved wife; daughter and son-inlaw, Karen and Dan Cheshier, of Pittsburg, TX; daughter, Laura Moore Van Hoosier, of Dallas; son, John Hoffman Moore, III of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren Matt Cheshier and wife, Laura, and Jim Cheshier and wife Stephanie, Bryn, Blaine, and Bella Van Hoosier, and John Hoffman IV, Vivian, and Gibson Moore; and two great-grandchildren William and Elizabeth Cheshier. He is also survived by step-children, Becky Sutton Smith of Longview, Mike Sutton of Anchorage, Alaska, Scott Sutton of Avinger, and Suzanne and her husband, Bill Stoudt, of Longview; step-grandchildren, Sarah Smith Geiman and husband, Nathan, Ashley Sutton, and Chase Coleman and wife, Virginia; and step-great grand-daughter, Kenlsey Geiman. Johnny also leaves behind his brother and sister-in-law, Dewey and Martha Moore, of Hughes Springs and his brother, Dale Moore, of Lake Whitney, Texas and many beloved nieces, nephews, and a sister-in-law and brotherin- law, Helen and Jim Walker of Daingerfield.

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate his memory is scheduled Saturday, April 16, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, 522 Hwy 37 South, in Mount Vernon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests for donations to be made in his memory to: The Longview Cancer Center, 1300 North Fourth Street, Longview, 75601, The American Cancer Society, or The Catfish Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund for Mount Vernon Athletes, Mount Vernon, Texas.

The family offers the kindest thankfulness to Dr. Duncan, Kim, Dr. Hodges, and Dr. Taylor at the Longview Cancer Center and the doctors and nurses for their kind and loving care while Johnny was a patient at Good Shepherd Medical Center.