Charles Keith Moore

Charles Keith Moore early on known as Keith and later C. K. Moore, age 80, of Gillette, Wyoming, formerly of Wibaux, Montana, passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2003 at the VA Hospital in Sheridan, Wyoming after a three and a half year bout with cancer. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Wibaux. Interment with military honors will be in the Wibaux Cemetery in Wibaux. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements. Keith was born on June 23, 1923 in Farmington, Illinois, the son of Charles Agustus and Virginia Katherine (Myers) Moore. He attended schools in Sentinel Butte and Camels Hump, North Dakota. He was united in marriage to Ada May "Tubby" Chase on February 15, 1946 in Wibaux, Montana. Keith was a generous man who might have been regarded as a fierce patriot who remained active in VFW for many, many years. It is hoped that all of us will distinguish ourselves in some shape or form during the gift of life presented to us by our Lord and many might not have been aware of several of the ways Keith did this during his lifetime. While in the Navy Seabees stationed in the various islands of the Pacific during World War II, he served as an oiler or equipment maintainer on the huge earthmoving machinery. One day as the temperature swelled to over 100 degrees an older veteran crawled sweatily down off his Caterpillar dozer and staggered wearily up to Keith saying, "crawl up on there young man." Keith did and his innate ability with a Caterpillar dozer soon surfaced and he became known as one of a few select operators who could finish a steep slope of a grade of 1 ½ to 1 by feathering the black dirt across the slope at a forty five degree angle to a grade of within a tenth. Prior to going to the Navy Keith had developed another skill that he would be noted for deep into his following life. While tough economic times often subdued rural Americans in some of his younger years he began to shoot magpies and later coyotes which carried a bounty on them in those years. Keith Moore became known as an excellent shot and later on when hunters from Minnesota or Wisconsin would drift out inevitably they would ask in town who was a good hunter whom they might get to guide them. Predictably the name of Keith Moore would surface and he would drop whatever he was doing to take them hunting. One day he came home with a brand new 270 Winchester and announced, "look Tubby I bought you a new rifle." "I don't want that," Tubby replied hands on hips. "Okay I will take it," Keith remarked grinning ear to ear. This was, as many knew, vintage Keith Moore humor, another thing he was known for. In addition to earning the respect of all that knew him with a rifle and a dozer he had at least one other skill that might be overlooked. He was known as an excellent truck driver who could and would run a tractor trailer rig round the clock in the days before log books and tachometers. He was admired by many drivers in the local vicinity for his skill in backing a trailer into a very tough corner and there was one particular depot in Peoria Illinois where fainthearted drivers were glad to see Keith drive in. He would graciously accommodate their whispered requests "er wouldya back my rig into that hole?" One incident he told about of his driving days occurred in a heavy traffic three lane thoroughfare leading into Chicago. A cardboard box of some size seemed to have blown into the middle of his lane so since the traffic at that moment was unusually uncrowded he swung out to go around the box he would normally have just run over. As he got passed he swung back into his lane and subconsciously glanced in his rear view mirror and shivered to witness a little child crawl out of the box and pull it back to the side of the road. Keith might be described a man's man as he enjoyed hunting and fishing and even riding broncs in his early days but along with this he cherished his grandchildren and even great grandchildren. His sons-in-law he always greeted with a respectful, loving handshake, his lone daughter in-law was endeared to him with his characteristic "hi daughter" who he truly loved as his own daughters. While many may forget his notable achievements as a hunter, truckdriver and cat skinner most will never forget his easy laugh and dry wit. Once having risen through the ranks to chief superintendent for Harry Norgaard road contracting [in spite of a sophomore education] Keith listened as one of the operators ribbed the always restless owner Harry Norgaard. The project was preceding always too slow for Norgaards desires. "Relax Norgaard," said the operator to the big boss, "Rome wasn't built in a day," "No," agreed Keith, "but then Norgaard didn't have the contract either." Such was a typical example of the quick witted Keith Moore and a prime example of the attribute many will remember him for. Surely he will be missed by all that knew him well. Good bye Keith and thank you for the joy you brought into our lives. Keith served as Commander of the Wibaux V.F.W. and was a member of the Moose Lodge in Sidney, Montana. Keith was preceded in death by his mother whom he lost while serving in the US Navy in 1941, his father in 1961 and an infant sibling between him and his surviving sister, Virginia Ruth Houck of Wibaux, Montana. Keith is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ada May "Tubby" Moore of Gillette, Wyoming; five children, Leslie Moore of Bozeman, Montana, Linda Gasho of Gillette, Wyoming, Virginia Lechler of Rozet, Wyoming, Ramona Sult of Circle, Montana and Kim Scott of Houston, Texas; his sister, Virginia Ruth Houck of Wibaux, Montana; 16 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; Keith and Tubby were a colorful couple as Tubby at barely five feet tall would nearly run to stay astride her six foot husband as he sauntered down the street. And stand beside him she did for all their 57 years together as she often handled most of the ranch duty while he worked road construction in an effort to carve out a living for their five child family.

Charles Keith Moore

June 23, 1923 - December 23, 2003

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Charles Keith Moore

June 23, 1923 - December 23, 2003

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

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Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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