of Jacksonville, AR

January 22, 1934 - January 11, 2025

Leon Moore of Jacksonville, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Leon was born January 22, 1934 in Danville, Arkansas to James and Sylvia Moore. As a young man he split time with relatives in North Little Rock and Hayti, Missouri. He graduated from North Little Rock High School and attended Arkansas State Teacher's College (UCA today) where he studied pre-Pharmacy. He later took a job at Levy Center Drug Store in North Little Rock and worked part time for 43 years.

He enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard in 1950, was later commissioned and served a career of over 44 years retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1994. He attended many schools and trainings including Field Artillery Basic and Officer Course, National Security Management, Command and General Staff College and Army War College. During his career, Leon served in numerous units including the 142nd Field Artillery, the 39th Infantry Brigade and the State Area Command Headquarters (today's Joint Force Headquarters.) His expertise covered field artillery, logistics, audit and internal review analysis, emergency management, and selective service operations. Among the many notable operations and activities occurring during his military service, Leon was a member of the unit detailed to assist during the Little Rock Central High School crisis of 1957.

His list of professional military honors and medals include: Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Arkansas Service Ribbon, the Arkansas Distinguished Service Ribbon, and the Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon. He was also a member of the Order of St. Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen and cannoneers.

In addition to his military service career, Leon was instrumental in the founding of the North Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department in 1970 when he and his family moved to the Jacksonville area. He was certified as a firefighter and emergency medical technician through the Arkansas Fire Training Academy in Camden. He served as a volunteer firefighter and board member of the department for 20 years.

Leon was a member of the Bethel Methodist Church in Jacksonville, as well as an active, life-long member of the Masonic Lodge Sylvan Hills and was a 32nd degree Mason. Additionally, he served 50 years with the Scottish Rite of the Valley of Arkansas and received the Pillars of Solomon Award.

Leon is survived by his wife of 67 years, Loretta I. Moore of Jacksonville; one sister, Ada Thomlinson of Jacksonville, Alabama; three sons, David and Kathy Moore of Andrews, North Carolina, Keith and Tracy Moore of Jacksonville and Steve and Julie Moore of Killeen, Texas; seven grandchildren, Perrie, Tori, Ryk, Zac, Jake and Bryce Moore and Dylan Rayburn of Dallas, Texas and four great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Roller-Owens Funeral Home, 5509 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Methodist Church, 7417 Jacksonville-Conway Road in Jacksonville with interment to follow at Bethel Methodist Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Methodist Church Contact at BethelUMCJacksonville@gmail.com.

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