Ralph Arthur Moore

Ralph Arthur (Ray) Moore began his story in Baltimore, Maryland on Flag Day, June 14, 1937. Eighty years later, Oct.19,2017 when he passed away at Circle of Life, Bentonville, Arkansas, the United States Flag remained a symbol of his independent life. Ray was predeceased by his father and mother, Morris and Cornelia Moore, his brothers Morris and William Moore and sisters-in-law Alice and Mary Moore. He is survived by his wife, Marion Gallo Moore, his daughter Robin Reed, his son Richard Rader (Lori), granddaughters Ashley Reed, Kristan Reed and Leslie Reed Cormier (Josh). He will be missed by his brother Roy Moore, niece, Kathy Lauer (David) and nephew Thomas Moore (Melanie), sister-in-law Delores Moore and their families. Orphaned at the age of six Ray began his adventurous life living with various relatives and friends in Baltimore, Maryland. He enlisted at a very young age in the army, trained at military bases throughout the United States including in Alaska. Having become an expert with weapons and dynamite Ray found himself parachuting from planes on classified missions in fomenting Asia in the 1970s. After his military service, overseas construction lured Ray to Saudi Arabia and Iran where he experienced revolutionary turmoil and a hasty exit. The "James Bond" era beckoned Ray to Florida, the Caribbean and Bahamas and saw him on film in scuba gear fighting fictional underwater battles, as a stand-in for famous actors, and swimming with dolphins. His record setting deep diving ability enabled him to establish a salvage business, which took him to the frigid water of Lake Titicaca, Peru to search for a downed plane. Ray also took the time for youthful fun such as clowning off high diving boards into hotel pools to amuse Bahamian tourists. In the 1980s Ray went to work in the oil industry on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and in 1987 met and later married Marion, a mathematics educator. His roaming days were over for he had finally found the love, family, and domestic stability he had been seeking. Together they enjoyed the pleasures of living in Solitude on their beautiful tropical paradise. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo devastated their home and island. After two days of battering wind and rain turned their cliff-side house into a roofless empty shell, the first thing Ray did was raise the American flag. During the months without electric, food and water scarcity Marion and Ray rebuilt their home. Ray also worked with his son-in-law Peter Reed's construction company to restore many other buildings and homes on the island. In 1995 Ray and Marion retired to Rogers, Arkansas to a tranquil life in their forested log house, dubbed the Christmas House, overlooking Beaver Lake where family visits, boating and socializing, and road trips in their RV kept them content until Ray's illness. We would like to picture Ray sailing through a heavenly eternity surrounded by his happy animal children Lance, Guinevere, Beau, Buster and Nala and the neighborhood cats and dogs with dolphins swimming alongside. There will be island music playing in the background and lots of desserts with platters of cannolis and cream-topped Cruzan coffee. The family is indebted to Ray's neighbors, The Northwest Arkansas Boat Club, the Rogers-Bentonville Elks, the many members of the health profession, and church who helped ease him through his struggle with small cell lung cancer. We are especially grateful to Bob and Nancy Clarke and Len and Geri Oswald who gave so generously of their time, Father Mike Sinkler, Dr. Gary Neaville, and the ladies of Mercy Home Health, Ever Faithful at Apple Blossom Independent Living Community and Circle of Life Hospice. Arrangements for Ralph Arthur Moore's cremation and interment at the Fayetteville National Cemetery are being made by The Benton County Funeral Home. A memorial mass will take place Friday, October 27, 2017 at twelve noon in the chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, Arkansas with The American Legion participating in the ceremonies. In Ray's remembrance donations to rebuild the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, recently destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, can be sent to RR2 Box 9250, Kingshill, VI 00850 or online at: stcroixawc.org.