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June 27, 1935-Nov. 30, 2023

 

Harold Ray Moore, 88, of Cortland, Indiana, passed away on Nov. 30, 2023, surrounded by his family after a long and courageous battle against Parkinson’s. Harold, born June 27, 1935, in Nashville, Indiana, was the son of Harold and Elma Moore. He was preceded in death by his parents and three older brothers, Merrill Moore, Keith Moore, and Loren Moore. Harold, known to his loved ones as Ray, is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet Thompson Moore, his daughter, Lesa Moore and his son, Bryan (Lisa Dillman) Moore of Indianapolis. Ray was a loving grandfather to his two granddaughters, Emery, and Anaya. Ray was reared on a farm near Nashville, Indiana and Brown County State Park. At age seven, Ray was gathering, shelling, and selling hickory nuts to the tourists traveling the two-lane state road which ran in front of their home. He sold enough hickory nuts that summer to buy a used bike complete with mud flaps and a speedometer. Thus began his career in the financial world. Ray attended school in Nashville. He was on the starting five of the Highschool Varsity Basketball team and Graduated Valedictorian from Nashville High School in 1953. Always an avid IU basketball fan, it is only fitting that Ray would choose to attend Indiana University and graduate from the IU School of Business in 1958. Both his children grew up knowing the IU fight song! Ray’s banking career began in 1960 at Irwin Union Bank in Columbus, Indiana. During his 13-year stint, Ray climbed the ladder to Assistant Vice President with responsibilities in the consumer lending, marketing, insurance and travel departments. In 1973 Ray and family moved to Galesburg, Illinois. For 10 years, Ray was Vice President and Senior Lender with responsibilities for all of marketing at First Galesburg National Bank. While in Galesburg, Ray was highly active in the community including President of the YMCA Board of Directors, Campaign Chairman for the United Way, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Community Relations Committee developing a video to promote Galesburg to incoming professionals and prospective industries. Ray was an active member and elder of First Christian Church. You could also find him in the stands cheering loud and proud for his daughter and son in their respective athletic endeavors. In 1983, Ray become the Senior Vice President in Commercial Lending, Marketing, Strategic Planning and Human Resources for the First Midwest Bank in Danville, Illinois. While in Danville, Ray was a member of the Rotary, on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of the Executive Committee of the Chamber. Ray’s next move took the family to Springfield, Illinois where he was President and CEO of Town & Country Bank. While in Springfield, he was active in Evangel Christian Church as an Elder, Church Treasurer, and Chairman of the Church Planning Committee involved in planning the construction of their first permanent church building. Ray’s longest and final career move led to Dowagiac, Michigan. From 1989 to 2000 Ray was President and CEO of FMB Community Bank eventually bought out by Huntington Bank. Under Ray’s direction the bank sponsored multiple events within the community including the annual Storyteller event of the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival and the annual FMB Community Hole-In-One Shoot Out raising funds for the Lee Memorial Hospital Foundation. Ray was the Treasurer for the operations committee for the Greater Niles Economic Development Board, the Vice Chairman of the Lakeland Hospital Health Foundation and Vice Chairman and Fund-Raising Chairman for his favorite non-profit Habitat for Humanity. While in Dowagiac Ray was involved in the First Christian Church as Elder, Chairman of the Board, Stewardship Chairman, Evangelism Chairman and a choir member. After retirement, Ray and his wife Janet split time in Leesburg, Florida and Cortland, Indiana. Ray was an Elder and a board member for the Leesburg First Christian Church and an active member in the Cortland Christian Church. In Florida, Ray could now play golf on more than just Saturday. In Cortland, you could often find him on the tractor helping his brother-in-law. This year, as an IU fan, Ray was pleased with the direction Mike Woodson was taking the team. Ray was also a Colts and Payton Manning fan. Over the years, Ray became a knowledgeable volleyball enthusiast with help from his daughter, son and daughter-in-law who played and coached at the collegiate level. For the past six years volleyball has become his favorite sport as he cheered on his granddaughters either in person or via live stream. Funeral services for Ray will be held at Voss & Sons Funeral Home, 316 North Chestnut Street, Seymour, IN 46274 at 11 a.m., on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. Burial will take place in Riverview Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, and from 10 a.m., until the time of the service Thursday at the funeral home. In memory of Ray, memorial contributions are suggested to the Cortland Christian Church, Cortland, Indiana in care of the funeral home.