Girard Wellington Moore Jr. Obituary
Girard W. "Jerry" Moore passed away peacefully on 24 July 2024 in Miami, Florida, at the age of 98. He was welcomed by his Savior, in heaven and is walking and dancing on the streets of gold with his beautiful wife, Beverly. He loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart, soul, and mind and shared that love with everyone he knew. Besides believers we knew, he is now with people we never knew that he brought to the Lord and who preceded him in death, including people he ministered to in jail, the hospital, tennis courts, etc.
Jerry was born in Charlottesville, Virginia on 25 May 1926 and graduated from Knoxville High School in Tennessee. Jerry graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with Class 48A, in three years, on 6 June 1947. The class was split academically; those with better grades (upper half) graduated in 1947. The lower half midshipmen graduated in four years in 1948. Ensign G.W. Moore, Jr. deployed to Shanghai, China and Tokyo, Japan during his first stint in the U.S. Navy on the USS Duluth (CL-87) between July 1947 and June 1948. While in the Far East, Ensign Moore was dispatched to Nagoya, Japan to gather hydrographic information on the harbor. He separated from the Navy on 11 July 1950.
Lieutenant (junior grade) Moore was recalled to active duty during the Korean War where he taught Navigation and Nautical Astronomy to Officer Candidates at Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island. His 2nd stint in the Navy was from 15 June 1951 to 21 May 1953.
Jerry was married to the love of his life, Beverly (nee Peters) on 21 July 1951 in Summerville, SC. After his second Navy stint, they moved to Miami in 1953 and lived there until each of their deaths. They moved to Miami for the warm weather and so Jerry could play tennis. Jerry and Bev lived in four houses, affectionately known as 9841, 9755, 12325, and 8361 before moving to East Ridge. 9841 is still owned by the same couple who bought it in 1968. 9755 was a special place since it was designed in 1968 as a colonial, two-story house that also included a basement with a walkout deck to a beautiful freshwater lake with an island. The coral rock from the lake was sold to the Department of Transportation to build roads in the area. There was a zipline from one end of the lake to the island. Son John had a jon boat to pull folks on a zip sled around the island. Jerry was a stockbroker with Goodbody & Company and Merrill Lynch and a tennis player. In his 40s, Jerry was ranked #1 in the State of Florida on the tennis circuit. After being a stockbroker, Jerry became a tennis instructor/professional full-time. He also started Moore and Sons with sons, Jeff and John, selling tennis rackets, etc. in the 1970s. In 1976, Jerry started Kings Courts Tennis Club on First Baptist Church of Perrine (now Christ Fellowship Church) property. He quit teaching tennis in 2015 at the age of 89. Son John taught tennis with Jerry from 1980 to 2007.
Jerry and Bev were members at Riviera Presbyterian Church, Kendall Presbyterian Church, and Christ Fellowship Church. Jerry was an elder and deacon and sang in the choirs with Beverly. Both were faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his three loving sons: Girard W. "Jeff" (Gail) Moore, III of Melbourne, FL, John (Kelly) Moore of Palmetto Bay, FL, and Chris (Jill) Moore of Viera, FL. His cherished grandchildren include Wesley and Marshall (Alyssa) Moore of Melbourne, FL; Michael (Katie) Moore of Buford, GA, Kinsey (Jonathan) Simmons of Palmetto Bay, FL, Heather Moore of Alexandria, VA, Laurel (David) Cheromei of Kaptagat, Kenya, Camellia (Jason Elliott) Moore of Parks, AZ, and Logan (Jenna) Moore of Bellevue, NE. His nine precious great-grandchildren are Kai Moore, Caleb and Joshua Moore, Kiley, Jackson, and Sunny Simmons and Lily, Levi, and Lucy Cheromei. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Barnett of Summerville, SC.
A huge thank you to East Ridge Retirement Village at Cutler Bay for their tender care of Jerry and Bev since 2012. Jerry always expressed what a blessing it was for them to call East Ridge their home. The family also expresses gratitude to the compassionate hospice caregivers of Vitas Healthcare for the last days his life and for the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank and Stanfill Funeral Home for their care and concern for the family.
Jerry's long and wonderful life will be celebrated at the East Ridge at Cutler Bay Auditorium on Friday, 2 August 2024 at 1pm. The address is: 19301 SW 87th Ave, Cutler Bay, FL 33157. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Christ Fellowship Church or East Ridge at Cutler Bay.
