Larry G. Moore

Lakeville-A mountain of a man I never thought would go. A heart like no other—figures it would be the way he went. He played his life like a game of monopoly—buying and selling. Wheeling and dealing. A True Junk man who thought he was Elvis. An avid watcher of Westerns, doubtfully ever finishing one—constantly flipping the channels back and forth. He taught us a love for finding the “deal” and searching for our next treasure, including the perfect tomato. A lover of all things old—Except women. A teller of dirty jokes and inappropriate comments, but always the life of a party. You’ll be so missed, Sunshine. There won’t ever be another like you. That’s for damn sure. Shine bright for us, Whiskers.

   As described in the preceding lines, written by his oldest grandchild, Alixandria Cutter, Larry Moore lived a mythical life in Northern Indiana. Born in Mishawaka, on Oct.18, 1941, to Gertrude Eunice Prine Moore and John Thomas Moore, the 4th of 6 children, he was a great lover of family. His childhood was idyllic, running through fields and splashing in creek water. On East 8th Street, he learned his siblings: Richard, Kenneth (DooDa), Fredrick (Bud), and sister Dixie Diane. They remained a close family even after Kenneth and Richard (Kate) died in mid-life. In recent years, he has renewed his relationship with his sister, Dixie Diane (Larry Dykehuizen,) who had lived away for decades. Brother Bud has been a constant friend and companion throughout life, working, visiting, and more recently helping, along with his wife Carol, to care for Larry.

   On Sunday Evening, August 30, around 5:00 P.M., in his home just south of Lakeville, the man many called “Sunshine,” said good-bye to his adoring family. They were at his side and had been for many weeks. Surviving him are his children and their spouses: Melanie Osborn (Mark), John Moore (Tammy), Chantelle Casey (Steve), (Cumming, Ga.), Melissa Rozwarski (Troy) Courtney Usenick (Randy), foster son Edwin Perez (Chicago), and adopted grandson and usual housemate, Josh McKeever. He is also survived by his children’s mother, Phyllis (Hensley) Moore-Whitesell. Preceding Larry in death are his parents, John and Gertie, his brothers, Kenneth and Richard, a sister, Gloria Darlene, and his baby son, Jason Matthew. Larry has been blessed with 14 grandchildren and 5 grandchildren-in-law: Alixanderia Cutter (Michael, McKinney, Texas); Abigale Carpenter (Daniel, Kansas City, Missouri,) Chase Osborn (Boston, Mass.); JohnMichael Tomas Moore (Meredith, South Bend); Joy Blain Swinehart (Ethan, Key Largo); Trevor Casey, Colin Casey, Aaron Casey (Atlanta); Baylee Rozwarski, Chloee Rozwarski(Plymouth, IN) ; Emily Usenick, Blake Usenick, Zach Usenick (Osceola), Olivia Vincent (Nathan Vincent, South Bend); and two great granddaughters, Aurora Elizabeth Cutter and Hazel Grace Cutter (McKinney, Texas).

   Larry was an entrepreneur at heart.  In his lifetime he owned many businesses including but not limited to Nappanee Iron and Metal, Lapaz IN (Currently owned and operated by his forever partner, his son John Moore) Sunshine Salvage, Lapaz, IN, Wyatt Beef And Brew, Wyatt, IN, The old Cookies Grocery Store in Woodland IN, different buildings throughout Marshall and St Joe County.  He was partner in many ventures including the building of Old Dodge Manufacturing where he worked in his previous years.  On his last day of working there he told people "One day I will own this place".  He always made his dreams come true.  His most recent venture was Larry's Field of Dreams Farms

   Larry Moore was a man with a heart of love as big as he was. Much has been written about him by many, but the following poem, composed by his niece, Reannin Soule (daughter of brother-in-law, Mark Hensley) well expresses what we have lost, but what we will continue to hold in “the boneyard of the heart.”

    Crashed planes and old sail boats,

    Ponds and a train caboose.

    Missing finger and one eye tooth,

    Popcorn machines and auctions,

    Elvis and old barns made new.

    Swarms of lady bugs on an old back porch, fireflies at dusk,

    Cornfields on Roosevelt Road,

    A porch swing that broke.

    An amazing beard, and handsome eyes,

    A modern day John Wayne.

    Old buildings and junkyards,

    Dump trucks and semi-trailers,

    B&B and old raggedy dogs.

   2020 you have taken far too much.  Let's not allow covid to keep us from honoring this great man..  

  Visitation will be on Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 3:00pm-8:00pm in Hahn Funeral Home, 505 West 8th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.    Due to current public health and safety standards for COVID-19 social distancing will be enforced and masks required

  Funeral services will be held at 10:00am Friday September 4, 2020 in the funeral home with the burial to follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Garden.

  To leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.  Memorial contributions can be made Pet Refuge in Mishawaka or Elara Caring Hospice in South Bend.

For those wishing to join, a live-streamed funeral service will also be available at 10:00am on Friday September 4, 2020. To access the livestream service use the Zoom website or app with a Meeting ID of 5742551474.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Larry G. Moore, please visit our floral store.