Obituary of Cledys Moore

View Video Tribute Cledys “C.D.â€? Moore, 97, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2008 at the Simla Good Samaritan Center. He was born in a tent in Lincolnville, Oklahoma, August 5, 1910 to George Thomas Moore and Emmagene Richardson. As a small boy, his family moved from Oklahoma back to Missouri, making the trek in a covered wagon. From there, the family headed west, settling in Colorado in the early 1920s. For the next eight decades, he was actively involved in farming. The eldest of ten children, he assumed a lot of responsibility for the farming operation. Coupled with his own father’s failing health, CD was making the majority of farming decisions for the family by the age of fourteen. Farming through his teenage years effectively precluded his active participation as a full-time student, but he did attend school when it didn’t interfere with the time necessary to provide for the family. He purchased his first piece of ground at age twenty-five for ten dollars an acre. An honest and capable man, he spent much of the remainder of his life shepherding his crops, subject always to the whims of nature. During his life, he witnessed an amazing metamorphosis in farming techniques, beginning with a horse and plow, and finishing with huge implements capable of tilling hundreds of acres a day. His belief in land investment promoted him to continue to add acreage to the family farm throughout most of the remainder of his life. For a period of time, CD purchased and operated an implement dealership in addition to farming. That he remained actively farming well into his late 80’s is both symbolic of his life-long devotion to farming and a testament to his sturdy constitution. A tribute to his stewardship of the land, the family farm that was started by CD is still in successful operation today. CD was a wonderful story teller. Given the opportunity, he would gladly regale a willing audience with tales from yesteryear; blizzards and hail storms, wild horses and unruly cattle, homesteads and harvests. He knew no strangers and could engage in conversation with anyone. When you finished talking with him, regardless of how well you knew him or he knew you, you always felt like you’d just talked with an old friend. CD was a family man. He raised six children, all of whom were taught the value of hard work and a love of the outdoors. Although there weren’t a lot of outdoor recreational activities available in and around the Simla area, at least once a year the family loaded up and headed for the mountains where they would spend time fishing, camping and enjoying the splendor of God’s firmament. Some of the family’s most cherished moments occurred on these trips when the work was done, and the family could pause and take refuge from the daily stresses inherent in living the life of a high plains farm family. Baptized as a child, CD was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Simla for many years. During his life, he was active in numerous civic groups and organizations. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, the IOOF, served on the Simla Town Council, was a founding member of the Simla Gun Club, and served on the Board of Directors for the Central Colorado Bank in Colorado Springs, CO. He married Opal Thomas on November 30, 1933 to which marriage three children were born, Beverly, Cleta Faye, and Tom. After Opal’s death, he married Janet Mitchell on June 27, 1948 to which marriage Allan, Ken, and Myra were born. CD and Janet shared and enjoyed their family of six children. Cledys was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, daughter Cleta Faye Hill, and siblings Georgia Moore, June Wingard, Kirk Moore, Ronnie Moore, and Thelmer Moore. He is survived by five children: Beverly (David) Marken of Matheson, CO, Tom (Florene) of Littleton, CO, Allan (Vicki) of Simla, CO, Ken (Mary) of Simla, CO, Myra (Tom) of Wray, CO and a son-in-law, Ray Hill, of Hendersonville, TN, and eighteen grandchildren - Bob (Jan) Marken, Opal (Roger) Rupp, Roy (Sue) Marken, Carol (Neil) Spaulding, Ben Hill, Tim (Theresa) Hill, Cathy (John) Fisher, Marci Hill, Allen (Jylane) Long, Kaeli Moore, K.C. Moore, Rick Moore, Jean Moore, Rob Moore, Kirk Moore, Christy (Matt) Walenczak, Grayson (Laura Brunner) Westfall, Erin (Michael Callahan) Westfall; and seventeen great-grandchildren; in addition to many other relatives and friends. A funeral service will be held 1:30pm Wednesday March 12, 2008 at the Simla School Gymnasium. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be given in CD’s name to the Simla Good Samaritan Center, PO Box 38, Simla, CO 80835.