Rex Dale Moore's Obituary
Rex was born October 18, 1930 in Wayne County, Iowa to Emmett and Hattie (Schooley) Moore, the fourth of five children. He grew up in rural Wayne County, attending Clark Country School, South Salem School in Promise City, and completing his high school education in Cambria, graduating in the class of 1950. Rex married his high school sweetheart, Donna Massey, in 1951 before being drafted into the Army that fall. He served in the 25th Infantry Division, training that winter in the mountainous hills of Pennsylvania to ready his unit for deployment to Korea. He was a machine gunner at the front lines on Heartbreak Ridge in the summer of 1952, and later being assigned to Geoje-do prison camp duty where he completed his service. He remained in the Army Reserves until December, 1959 when he was honorably discharged. Rex and Donna welcomed a daughter, Debbie, in 1955. Their marriage ended in 1968.
In 1972, Rex was embraced by the McMurry family when he married Marilyn. Marilyn had been widowed for 6 years, and Rex immediately added five more children to his family, daughters Marcia and Brenda and sons, Terry, Dennis and Donnie.
Throughout Rex's life he was a hard and loyal worker for a variety of employers, always giving his best, and then some. His employment for Hy-Vee spanned many years beginning in the 1950's, concluding in the summer of 2022. In the early days with Hy-Vee he was a warehouse worker and then a salesman when Hy-Vee supplied groceries for small town grocery stores in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. Armed with a clipboard and an order form he took orders from local grocers, making sure they were entered clearly for proper filling. Driven by his love of the grocery and service business, Rex and Marilyn opened their own grocery store in Allerton, Iowa and enjoyed that experience.
Small town grocery stores were fading away, however, so Rex worked in other businesses like Gro-Mo-Co, an animal feed business in Millerton for several years. He always did some farming and enjoyed raising livestock when he had the opportunity. In the early 1990's Rex and Marilyn moved to Indianola and Rex began working for Willis (then Betts) Auto Campus. For the next 20 years he enjoyed test driving vehicles that came into the dealership for service and the camaraderie of the service department team with whom he worked. He especially enjoyed the times he and son, Terry, who also worked for Willis, commuted together from Indianola to Des Moines. After retiring from Willis, Rex had to stay busy, so Hy-Vee in Indianola became his part-time job. He loved the social aspect of visiting with customers while sacking their groceries. Because he was so good at sacking, many customers made sure to do their shopping on the days Rex worked! Anyone who worked with Rex knew his view on a good work ethic, positive attitude, and the concept of accountability. He approached each day with gratitude.
Rex's strong faith in God, family and country anchored his life. Many of his favorite times were spent at Sunday family dinners where Rex and Marilyn's home overflowed with kids, in-laws, grandkids and eventually the great-grandkids. Moore family reunions were also a highlight of his desire to keep family connections intact. Rex and Marilyn especially loved the Iowa State Fair.
For many years, their vacations were spent in the State Fair campgrounds, surrounded by camping friends, and kicking off most days with a cup of coffee and Barksdale chocolate chip cookies! A proud Veteran, Rex marched in the State Fair Veteran's Day parade for several years and even after they no longer camped at the Fair, he always made sure to spend a day or two there each year. His military service was something of which he was particularly proud. In 2014, Honor flights to Washington, DC were occurring for Korean Veterans and he was thrilled for that opportunity. Accompanied by grandson-in-law, Matt Lundberg, he was able to visit all the memorials, including the one most special to him, the Korean War Memorial. Rex was a member of the Iowa Korean War Veterans Association, attending many meetings at Camp Dodge with fellow Veterans. He thoroughly appreciated a special event in September, 2022 where the veterans were honored by Korean children and were all interviewed for a book on Korean War Veterans' stories that will be published this summer. Rex was also a member of the American Legion. He loved basketball having played it in high school and refereed high school games after he returned from the Army. Rex made sure to watch all the Hawkeye and Cyclone basketball games
Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Hattie and Emmett, his sister, Frances; brothers, Lynn and Clair; his wife of 45 years, Marilyn, son Donnie McMurry, son in law, Ken Crooks, daughter in law, Twila McMurry. He is survived by brother Max Moore, daughters, Debbie (Ken) Fisher of Des Moines, Marcia Crooks and Brenda (Eric) Vinton, both of Indianola, son, Terry (Barb) McMurry of Indianola and son Dennis McMurry of Humeston; grandchildren, Matt (Karen) Fisher, Mandy Page, Kerri (Matt) Lundberg, Chisolm Crooks, Laci (Nick) Sinn, Gibson (Jamie) Pierce, Lincoln (Mariana)) McMurry, CJ (Misty) McMurry, Quinten McMurry, Bailey Walker, and Elly Vinton, In-laws Roger and Elzan McMurry, Nancy Bellon, Wretha Rumple and Lois McMurry as well as many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In addition to family, important to Rex were his numerous close friends, particularly those at the Indianola Hy-Vee and his morning coffee buddies.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM on Monday, March 13, 2023 at Thomas Funeral Home- Corydon with C.J. McMurry officiating. Interment will follow the service at Corydon Cemetery. Visitation will take place Monday, March 13, 2023 with the family greeting friends from 10-11AM at the Thomas Funeral Home- Corydon. Memorials have been established The Refuge in Winterset, Iowa, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Rex Moore Family, 303 East Jefferson Street, and PO BOX 294, Corydon, Iowa 50060. Condolences may be shared online or on our funeral home Facebook page.
The service for Rex will be live streamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/rex-moore-2023
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