Maurice “Maurie” M. Moran

Maurice M Moran of Durham, NC passed away on May 19, 2020 at the age of 88. Maurice was born on June 20, 1931 in Aurora, Nebraska to the late Alton Brooks Parker Moran and Dorothy Lucille (Otto) Moran. He graduated salutatorian from Scottsbluff High School, Scottsbluff NE and went on to graduate from Peru State College, NE. with a BS in Public Administration in 1951, BA in Music Education in 1952, and MS in Public School Administration in 1955. Maurice taught music full time from 1953 – 1959 at Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Nebraska. Directed the marching band and choir winning state championships year after year. He continued to sing in, direct, and play organ for church choirs, served as church elder, trustee, finance committee member and chairman, etc. as well as participating in and supporting community fine arts associations (Dutchess County Performing Arts, DPAC, North Carolina Theater, NC Symphony) and activities most of his life. He earned his Eagle Scout and served as troop leader for several years in Nebraska and New York.

In 1956, he joined IBM in Omaha, NE. as a Systems Engineer installing IBM 705 electronic data processing machines. During his 31 years before retiring in 1987, he held various management and executive positions in NYC, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, and Armonk, NY, including managing: the world’s two largest programming centers, most of IBM’s largest development laboratory, Management Development, Executive Resources and the specification, approval and funding of IBM’s newest and largest state-of-the-art programming development facility at Research Triangle Park, NC. In 1971 while manager of the Poughkeepsie Programming Center, he won the award for the best programming center in the world. In 1977, he managed the corporate task force on programmer exemption work which IBM Executive Management (CMC) rated as outstanding. Earlier in his career, Maurice and a colleague are credited with coining the term “APAR” for software fixes.

Following his IBM retirement, he joined the staff at Ravenscroft School, Raleigh NC in the school’s before and after school childcare programs for nine years. Maurice believed strongly in paying back to organizations that supported services his family depended upon while both parents worked.

Maurice treasured spending summers traveling in an RV with daughter Kathy visiting 49 of the 50 U.S. states and all Canadian providences except Nunavut together to foster a love of exploration of our national parks, a sense of appreciation for travel, and diversity in cultures. When Kathy was heading to Wake Forest University, Maurice continue his love of traveling with his wife to Mexico, Caribbean Islands, British Isles, China, Denmark, Sweden, Europe, Egypt, and Jordan.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sharon L Moran, daughters Kathy (Jason) Herne of Raleigh, North Carolina, Barbara (Jonathan) Heiles of Poughkeepsie, New York, Roberta Moran of New York, son Michael (Patti) Moran of Wilmington, North Carolina, sister Yvonne (Richard) Kizzier of Tucson, Arizona, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Erna L Dick, and a son John W Moran.

Maurice will be remembered as someone with a warm smile and greeting everyone, for his generous lifelong support of the arts, and as a business and financial visionary. He is fondly and deeply missed by his family and friends.

Family will receive friends on Sunday, May 31, 2020 from 2-4 pm at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to support the Performing and Fine Arts in the Triangle area.

If you feel uncomfortable attending the visitation due to health concerns - we highly encourage you to leave a favorite memory of Maurie or message of condolence to the family below within "add a memory". The family will be given a printed copy of all messages left.