Durwood Moore, Sr.
September 25, 1918 - April 23, 2009
Obituary
Durwood was born in Groesbeck, Texas on September 25, 1918, to Sophronia Simpson and Richard Moore.
He was the youngest of seven children and the last surviving sibling of 2 brothers and 4 sisters who are Ira White, Minnie , Mary Grey, Walter Moore, Lawrence Moore and Ruby Hawkins.
In November of 1941, he married Eddie Mae Moore, in El Paso Texas, and in 1944 they moved to Seattle. Washington. It was a coincidence that they both had the same last name.
In 1950, having had some experience in the Dry Cleaning business, he opened his own business with a friend and partner in Seattle. He finally had to dissolve the business because of his allergies to the cleaning fluids. Even then he suffered with respiratory disorders.
In 1952 he married Ardelle Steward, who passed away in 1990. He never remarried, and her death has created a lasting bond between the two families.
Durwood leaves 3 children to cherish his memory; Glenda Poogie Whitmyer, of Los Angeles, CA, Patricia Howell, of New York, NY, and Durwood Jr and Yvonne Moore, of Federal Way, WA. His grandchildren, Linda Jones, Pamela Anderson, Jerel Moore, Nedra Glass, Karl Simmons, and Dane Howell, who preceded him in death, and is truly missed. 2 nephews Robert Moore & Walter Moore, who referred to him as Dad and host of great nieces and nephews, as well as 11 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.
Because of their love and devotion to Durwood, the families are very close and live mostly In Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA.
He loved Salmon fishing, and was quite a swing dancer, and as an avid sports fan, he rarely missed a Husky football game. And he took pride in caring for the flowers surrounding his home.
Although not much for small talk, he enjoyed engaging in stimulating conversations with interesting people both young and old and therefore made friends with people from all walks of life.
He was consistent and steadfast in his religious practices and attending church was a regular practice throughout his life; although a member if First AME and later Grace Methodist Churches, he devoted hours of service to United Methodist Church in downtown Seattle in his later years. After his health began to fail he began attending Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, which he loved, and was closest to his home.
After being diagnose with diabetes he adapted good health practices which surely helped prolong his life. He celebrated his ninetieth birthday with family and friends in 2007.
After his latest bout with respiratory illness which began in his youth, his condition weakened and with a peacefully passing at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle on April 22, 2009. He will be missed by friends and family who considered it a pleasure to have known him.