John Chesley Moore

John Chesley Moore, 86, a Memphis Attorney, passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 5, 2011 from 5 -7 pm at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens – Poplar Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at Memphis Funeral Home- Poplar Chapel on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Interment at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

John was born February 9, 1925, in Memphis. He attended Memphis Tech High School before enlisting in the Army. A veteran of World War II, John was a member of the Army 17th Airborne Division, serving our country as a paratrooper during the Battle of the Bulge. He was one of seven members in his platoon of 52 who was not seriously wounded or killed. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in the European Theater of Operations. His military citations include three Bronze Stars, a Bronze Arrowhead, WWII Victory Medal, American Service Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

After the war, John graduated from Cumberland University Law School. He then came back to Memphis to practice law, and then met his wife of 59 years, Lou Robinson Moore. They were married on December 6, 1952. John served as the United States Commissioner for the Western District of Tennessee for 15 years, was a past President of the Downtown Sertoma Club, a member of the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association, past President of the Army 17th Airborne Division Association, Charter member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, and a member of the Boy Scouts of America with Old Troup 4, where he was an Eagle Scout.

John is survived by his wife, Lou; his daughters, Cheryl Grimes, and Gail Pickle and her husband Walter; his son, John Moore and his wife, Debbie Moore; two grandsons, Jonathan Phillips, John Connors Robinson Moore; and one great grandson, Maddox Phillips. Mr. Moore was preceded in death by his parents, Jeannie and John Moore; three sisters, Mildred Gullett, and his twin sisters, Myrtie Christopher and Mary Smith; as well as his twin brother Dr. James Moore.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Dorothy’s Place or the charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be posted at www.MemphisFuneralHome.net