William Ross "Willie" Moore

William “Willy” Ross Moore,  April 30 1957 - March 22, 2024

Will spent his youth in the company of Schneider River Rats. He and his buddies - Donnie, Mike, Eddie, Mark, Matt- to name a few - spent their time jumping slow moving freight trains to get to their favorite swimming hole, fishing, tubing, hunting, running coonhounds and camping along the Kankakee River. There might have been a few beers, a few girls and a few fights involved, but it was all in good fun.

Will joined the US Army in 1976, becoming a proud member of the Armored Cavalry Division, winning the Distinguished Tanker Award as well Marksmans “Rifle” and First Class (hand grenade). He said learning to drive a tank helped him learn to operate heavy equipment later. Will’s time in the Army was blessed when he met life-long friends Bob and Lydia Lewandowski. Will and Bob enjoyed camping and hunting together and they visited as often as they could. Will also kept in close contact with Donnie and Sondra McCammon - friends of his youth.

Working as a heavy equipment operator for the Newton County Hi-way Department, Will - who started as a tandem dump truck driver - learned quickly in the heavy snowfalls of the ‘80s to plow snow. Will won first place Snowplow Operator in a nationwide competition in Wisconsin. When the tornado tore up Morocco in 1987, Will - first making sure his family was safe - got the payloader from the County Hi-way Department and pushed debris off the roads making way for emergency equipment. Another tragic event - the crash of American Eagle 4184 - saw Will and the other “County boys” hauling load after load of gravel throughout the night and next day building a road to reach the crash site. He rarely spoke of that night.

Becoming a father outshined Will’s other accomplishments. The birth of his daughter Tasha Rene left him nearly speechless. All he could say while gingerly holding his newly born, pink cheeked baby girl was “LOOK! LOOK!”. Later, Will would often threaten to “polish up the shotgun”, much to his daughter’s horror, when the boy friends started coming around. Will’s second born Casey Ross gave him a “new little buddy” to take fishing, hunting and camping. Will had Casey help him work on the mowers and vehicles - getting greasy equaled fun. Will was happy when Casey joined him in later years doing carpentry work. As a dad, Will was kept very busy running Tasha to dance classes, 4-H events and chorus. Casey kept his daddy busy with baseball, 4-H and karate. Will never really cared for the kid’s 4-H horses. He always said he preferred something with a key he could shut off if it acted up, but as a loving daddy, Will went along with his kids even riding with them. Taking them fishing and hunting was his comfort zone. No matter what the kids were doing, Will was always present.

Daughter Tasha blessed Will with five grandchildren: Jacob, Kylie, Andrew, Madeline and Dylan. Those grandchildren love their Papa Will or Papa Whale and he adored them - carrying their photos in his wallet. Will kept all the cards and artwork his grandchildren sent to him. William Ross Moore is survived by daughter Tasha Smith of Colorado; grandchildren Jacob (Colorado), Kylie (Sumava Resorts); Andrew, Madeline and Dylan (Colorado); two sisters Nancy and Georgia; special cousins Kathy, Laura and Steve.

Son Casey Ross preceded Will in death. This world has lost a good man - he was so much more. He is deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial luncheon will be held from 11-1pm, with an open bar, Friday, March 29, 2024 at the American Legion, Morocco, IN  Military Honors will immediately follow.

Arrangements entrusted to Comfort Cremations, 674 N. 36th Street, Lafayette, IN  47905.     (866) U-R-Loved - www.comfortcremations.net