Bobby Earl Moore's Obituary
Rev. Bobby Earl Moore
In the words of his favorite church song, I’ll Fly Away, which he loved to sing, Bobby Earl Moore, age 83, of Longview, TX, took flight - passing from this earth into the waiting arms of his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. He died full of faith and hope, trusting in God’s promises. He loved his own family and his church family dearly.
Bobby was born in Gary, Tx, in his grandmother Reba McGee Stone’s house to Aleese Stone Moore and Reuben Earl Moore, on Sept. 10, 1940. He was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and was well loved and well spoiled by his Big Daddy Fred Stone and Big Mama Reba on his maternal side and Big Daddy Rube and Big Mama Annie on the paternal. His only sibling, his sister Jere Jane Moore Brewster was born fifteen months after him, and the two were always as close as twins. His dad Earl, while still a teenager, was drafted into WW II, serving in the Navy on transport ships ferrying soldiers and supplies to islands in the Pacific while Aleese and the kids awaited his safe return in Oakland, CA.
After the war, they all went home to Panola County where Bobby entered the Carthage school system. He began his Christian pilgrimage when he was just twelve old in a revival at the First Baptist Church in Carthage where he acknowledged that he wanted to follow Christ. Through Bobby’s influence, both of his parents, his sister and two of his grandparents, came to make the same decision – his father Earl eventually becoming a beloved Baptist minister who served many churches in East Texas over much of his almost eighty years.
Bobby graduated from Carthage High School in1959. Excelling in football and baseball, he received a baseball scholarship to Panola College and a football scholarship to Stephen F. Austin. In 1960, he married fellow student, Sue Burns Moore, of Plain Dealing, LA. Soon after they completed their studies at SFA, Bobby was accepted at the University of Houston law school.
Shortly before he entered law school, he realized that the Christian ministry was his true calling, so the family, now including son David, moved instead, to Fort Worth, where Bobby could attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during the week and pastor Antelope Baptist Church in Jack County on weekends while Sue taught school. Upon graduating with a master’s degree, he pastored First Baptist in Clinton, LA, followed by First Baptist in Mineral Wells, TX, and Greggton First Baptist in Longview. Two more sons were born into the family during the time spent in Louisiana – C. Scott Moore and Jason F. Moore. In all, Bobby Earl Moore preached for more than 60 years.
During vacation time and retirement, Bobby loved to travel. He and Sue visited more than twenty contries and most of the United States. He loved history, and they often enjoyed traveling with David and Pam, and sometimes their boys, going to many of the great historic sites of the world. Every June he could hardly wait for the College World Series in Omaha and his annual trip there with the Moore boys. Over many years the group included Bobby, his dad Earl, David, Jason, and grandsons Casey, Jake, and Micah. He also loved watching all his grandchildren play soccer, football, tennis, or baseball, and he enjoyed coaching or assisting his own sons and grandsons in baseball.
He leaves behind his wife, Sue, son David Earl Moore and his wife Pamela Walters Moore, son Scott Moore, and son Jason F. Moore and wife Angelle Chappuis Moore, grandsons Casey Tyler Moore and wife Anna Jayakaran, Jacob Earl Moore, and Micah David Moore, and granddaughters Maddie Jean Moore, Alexis Stein and Molly Jean Moore, and his sister Jere Moore Brewster and her daughters Melinda Brewster Tidwell and Lisa Brewster Dykes, and his sister-in-law Beth Burns Vaughn and her husband Ronnie Vaughn and their daughters Leigh and Ronda.
The Moore family thanks Heritage Hospice nurses Terry Bingham and Janna Glass for their expert and loving care over the past two years, and also the staff of caregivers at Hawkins Creek Assisted Living, particularly Tonya, Tasha, Danielle and Raven.
Visitation will be held at Rader Funeral Home of Longview from 5-7PM Friday, and the service will be on Saturday, May 11 at 2 PM at Spring Hill First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Spring Hill First Baptist Church Mission Fund, Neal McCoy’s East Texas Angel Network and the Highway 80 Rescue Mission.
“The battle’s o’er, the victory’s won, the song of triumph has begun. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.”
What’s your fondest memory of Bobby?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bobby?
Share a story where Bobby's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bobby you’ll never forget.
How did Bobby make you smile?
