James L. Moore

He was born in DuQuoin, IL on July 31, 1929, the son of Troy and Pearl (Keith) Moore. He married Clara Louise Keene in DuQuoin on September 27, 1952. She survives.

James graduated from DuQuoin High School in 1948. He was a member of the school's basketball team throughout his attendance. He joined the United States Navy after high school and proudly served our nation during the Korean War. He served throughout the Mediterranean region and other parts of the world aboard the USS Allen M Sumner.

After returning home, he married Clara Louise Keene and they moved to the St. Louis area. There, he began his first job working at McDonnell Douglas. Shortly after, they moved to Bloomington, IL where he raised his two daughters and spent the majority of his life.

He began his career as a train dispatcher for GM&O Railroad (later known as the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad) in Bloomington, and also briefly in Chicago and Springfield. He retired in 1991. In his retirement he enjoyed working part-time at Prairie Vista Golf Course for 18 years.

James did not know a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, at any time.

He loved to travel the country with his beloved wife of 72 years and would always return with incredible stories of their travel adventures. Together they traveled to all 50 states meeting and making new friends along the way. He particularly enjoyed their annual trip to northern Wisconsin, which they had been doing for over 30 years. He was always eager to regale everyone with fish stories where the fish got just a little bigger, each retelling. He loved to golf with his family and friends and made a retirement career out of the sport. He most loved being surrounded by his family (especially if a meal was involved), cheering on his St. Louis Cardinals, ISU Basketball, and supporting the many sports and activity events of his grandchildren.

He is survived by two children: Denise (Jim) Geisler of Bloomington, and Lisa (Pete) Steadman of Normal; four grandchildren: Jennifer Stokes (fiancee David Lewis) of Bloomington, Patrick Steadman of Beardstown, Brian Geisler of Normal, and Mark (Kelcey) Steadman of Normal; five great-grandchildren: Jack Stokes, Abby Stokes, Nick Stokes, Graham Steadman, and Palmer Steadman, all of Bloomington-Normal.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the OSF Hospice team for their outstanding care of Jim in his final days.