Fred Ellis Moore |
| Posted 2015-05-20 by Sharla |
| The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 05./19/2015 Fred Ellis Moore, 83, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2015, at his home in Eagar with his eternal companion at his side. He battled pancreatic cancer for two years and four months before cancer won. Fred was born May 30, 1931, in Clifton, the son of William Ellis “Tully” and Faye Eleanor Stacy Moore. Fred was carried home 52 miles on horseback when he was eight days old to his grandfather’s ranch in eastern Arizona. His parents later bought a ranch on the lower Blue River in 1937 where he grew up. He attended the Blue School through the eighth grade and then high school by correspondence. As a young man he started his contracting career by contracting with the Forest Service or lumber companies to cut trees. He hired a crew and bought a chain saw and went to work as a 16-year-old entrepreneur. Later, he moved to Clifton where he went to work for Phelps Dodge Copper Mine. During that time he married Joyce Bennett and they had two children, Fred “Stoney” Jr. and Mary Ann Paulic. They moved to Phoenix where he could get more education. There he worked for the city of Phoenix and several construction companies before starting his own company, “Mercury Constructors,” in 1961. He ran Mercury for many years as a general contractor. He has installed many miles of water and sewer lines around the Valley and state over the years and was well known in Phoenix in that business as honest and knowledgeable. He married Sylvia R. Suiter in 1980 and their marriage was later solemnized in September 1982 in the Mesa Temple. Fred joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after his divorce. He has been active in the church from teaching primary classes to priesthood and as the ward financial clerk. His faith was important to him. He seldom missed a Sunday meeting and he tried to live his life by being kind to others and helping out wherever he found a need. In 1981 Fred and Sylvia bought a ranch in Willcox, which they incorporated as Nine Cross Ranch Inc. and he returned to being a rancher and a contractor. They raised registered Hereford cattle and quarter horses. As a rancher he was active in the Arizona Hereford Association representing Arizona and the association. In 2003 they added another property to the corporation with a small ranch outside of Springerville. He was very proud of the cattle he raised and the quality he had developed in his herd. He also had a love for horses and a good many Three Bar bred horses. At his passing he still had two stud horses and a number of mares and colts. Fred and Sylvia often said, “We mostly raised kids, as every weekend and later full-time, we have had grandchildren living with us.” Today there is only one left to raise, Roxy Bennalley, who is 7-1/2 years old and the apple of her grandfather’s eye. Fred taught each of them many of life’s values and to care for their animals and to respect others. He spent many hours helping them with homework and teaching them to ride and work at the ranch. Sometimes they thought he was too harsh, but today they appreciate the value of what he taught them. Always, they knew he loved them. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Laura Paulic, stepson Gary Bennalley, and stepgrandson Joey Kidd. He is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia R. Moore; brother Kenneth (Rondi) Moore; son “Stoney” (Josie) Moore; daughter Mary Ann (Ken) Paulic; stepson Anthony Bennalley; stepdaughter Fawnda (Mike) Papich; grandsons Shawn Moore and Nicholas (Annisa) Paulic; granddaughters Stephanie Moore, Kristy (Shawn) Eberle, Caitlin Paulica and Caroline Paulic; stepgrandsons Irvin Kellywood, Brandon Kidd and Sterling Begay; stepgranddaughters Toni Bennalley, Caroline (Jake) Snyder, Charlene (Veris) Brown, Crystal Bennalley and Roxy Bennalley; and 21 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eagar Stake Center, 135 N. Main, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow the funeral services at the Eagar Cemetery. If you would like to leave an online condolence for Fred’s family, please visit www.burnhammortuary.com. Burnham Mortuary in Eagar handled arrangements. See Also: Find A Grave |
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