John L. Moore, 93, of Freeport, IL, departed this earthly life on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at home with his loved ones. John was born August 26, 1926, in Water Valley, MS. The son of Leslie L. Moore and Audrey V. (Perkins) Moore. To this union were born three children, John Moore, Horace Moore, and Audrey (Moore) Bland.

John served in two branches of the military. From 1943-1947, John enlisted in the Navy where he served in World War II. From 1951-1955, John enlisted in the Air Force with the Fighting 18 ^th Fighter Bomber Wing where he served in the Korea War.  He took pride as he served his country. On holidays, John would post flags and displayed other decorations as often as he could, to let people know how proud he was for serving in the military.

John moved to Freeport, IL, in 1955, where he encountered Helen L. Smith while they both worked at Structo Manufacturing. After a short courtship they were married on September 22, 1956 and Helen departed this life on March 17, 2018. While employed at Structo, John lost his right hand operating a punch press but that did not stop him. He used that loss as a learning experience for himself and others. As John was in rehabilitation for his loss, he was there helping others deal with their losses, whether physical, mental, or emotionally. He always tried to look at the glass half full. John never allowed people to consider him handicap because of his hand but he worked as if nothing had changed in his life.

John had obtained a minimum of education in the school system, but he was a very intellectual man who knew something about everything. Many people would always tell him he needed to write a book because of the knowledge, wisdom, and stories he had lived. John was a jack of all trades and mastered many things. He had his own way of doing everything, a perfectionist and expected the same from the people whom he encountered.  John was a familiar face to the community and in various places such as schools, rehabilitation centers, and especially at the VA hospitals. John believed in giving, not only to the military, but he would help anyone, anywhere, and at any time, great or small, because he was truly a giver.

John is survived by three sons: Laurence (Fannie) Moore, Augusta, GA, Ronald (Seruia) Moore, Chula Vista, CA, Frederick Moore, Memphis, TN; Regina (Willie) Amous, Selena (Freddie) Jones, both of Memphis, TN, Deborah (Charles) Ryder, Rockford, IL, Joni Hunter, Audrey (Jerry) Howard, and Kimberly Moore-Norton, all of Freeport, IL. John has 35 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one sister, one son, Reginald Moore, one daughter, Regenia Moore, and one great-granddaughter, Tomesha M. Burrow.

John believed that everything should be a learning experience and had intentions of donating his body to science, but with underlining conditions the wish was not able to be fulfilled, so cremation will be in order with no service pending.