Donald B. Moore

Donald Booth Moore, 85, died October 14, 2012 at his home in Ft. Pierce.

Donald was born in Miami, FL on October 27, 1926. His family moved to Melbourne, FL, and then to Ft. Pierce in 1929, where his father was editor of the local newspaper. He attended local schools until 1942 when he went to National Youth Administration School in Tampa, FL.

After returning to Fort Pierce, Donald worked for Backus Boat Yard before joining the Navy. He was trained in Jacksonville, FL. In 1943 he was stationed on a light cruiser, the Omaha, patrolling the South Atlantic. Their ship sunk two German blockade runners who were delivering supplies to Germany from Argentina. They travelled to southern France for the 1944 invasion against the Germans. After WWII he was returned to Philadelphia where he helped decommission the Omaha. He was discharged in 1946 and remained in the Naval Reserve until 1959. Returning to Ft. Pierce, he joined the St. Lucie County Fire Department in April of 1946. In 1947 he became a bonded deputy with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department and attended bomb school in Dade County, FL. He worked with Explosive Ordinance Team #2 in the recovery and demolition of WWII explosive ordinance, TNT, and land mines that were left on the beaches of St. Lucie County when the Naval amphibious base was closed. In 1961 he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in a port security unit, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer in 1981. During this time he remained with the fire department for 32 years, serving as Fire Marshal for 20 years and later as Assistant Chief. He retired as the Chief of the Fort Pierce - St. Lucie Fire District in April 1978. Upon retirement he was awarded a lifetime membership in the International Association of Bomb Technicians.

During his retirement Donald remained busy with volunteer work. He was on the St. Lucie County Museum Board of Directors, serving as Secretary for several years. He served as Alderman for St. Lucie Village 8 years and was on the board of Old St. Lucie School. He was a Commander and Quarter Master for the local North Side VFW post. He was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church for 68 years.

Donald married Polly Ann Summerlin in September, 1950. They had five children.

'Chief' Moore was survived by his wife, Polly Ann, daughters Tina Talley (Roy), Dorothy Malizia (Mark), both of Ft. Pierce, Mary Ann Shambach (Fred) of Hernando, MS, son Fred Moore of Ft. Pierce, grandchildren Brian Riley of Ft. Lauderdale, Danielle Rose of Tampa, Ryan Knowles of Ft. Pierce, Sara Altenhoff of Oxford, MS, Donald (Buddy) Moore of Ft. Pierce, and Daniel White of Hernando, MS.

He was preceded in death by his son, Donald Moore, and brothers William M. Moore and H. B. Moore

Memorial contributions may be made to Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 or to Hospice of the Treasure Coast, 5000 Dunn Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34981. www.TCHospice.org

Visitation will be held at Haisley Funeral Home in Ft. Pierce on Wednesday, October 17 from 5-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Ft. Pierce at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 18. A celebration of his life will follow at St. Lucie School in St. Lucie Village.