James Blake Moore

-James Blake Moore

James Blake Moore was born to Carrie Jane and Jamie Moore in Fairfield, Alabama on June 20, 1928. He passed away on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 in San Diego, Ca. At three years old, James lost his mother and spent much of his childhood growing up with his grandparents, Mammy and Paw-Paw. It was Paw-Paw who affectionately nicknamed him “Preacher” when he overcame a stomach illness at six months old. While working as a welder building ships for World War II, he decided to join the U.S. Navy at sixteen years old. Aboard the U.S.S Granville, James fought in the Pacific. After the war, James became a fisherman in San Diego. Ever the hard worker, he was soon captain of his own fishing boat, sailing up and down the coasts of California and Baja California.

It was in San Diego that he met Margarita Arroyo – the love of his life. They were soon married, sharing a life together that was enriched by their diverse language and cultural backgrounds. With the birth of his first few children, James decided that the best way to support his family would be to work on land. He started the San Diego Plumbing Company and served the wider San Diego community for decades. Margarita and James had eight children, and they always put them first, working hard to send their children to Catholic schools and to take them on camping trips. After his career as an independent contractor, he worked for the United States Coast Guard. Among other accomplishments, James invented energy-saving devices that continue to operate at Station San Diego and supervised the building of Station Gulfport in Mississippi. James constantly sought to be self-reliant and always helpful to others. Like his grandparents, James and Margarita helped raise a number of grandchildren. He loved teaching others what he knew, hoping to impart the skills that helped him raise his family.

From fixing his own cars, reroofing the house, or playing the accordion, there wasn’t anything that James couldn’t do. Indeed, he was a multi-talented worker, teacher, and inventor, but above all, he was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He is survived by his wife, his children: Juanita, James, George, Sr. Guadalupe, Andrew (predeceased), Henry, Clara, and Eugenia, twenty-six grandchildren, and twenty-two great grandchildren.

A viewing will be at Goodbody Mortuary on Monday, September 24 from 4:00pm-8:00pm with a rosary at 6:00pm. A funeral service will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 11:30am with an interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

He will be missed by many.