Elisha Bernett Moore

Elisha Bernett Moore, 97, died Monday, December 19, 2005. He was born January 17, 1908, in Union Grove, Blount County, Tennessee and is preceded in death by his wife Grace Simmons Moore, infant daughter Marion Grace Moore and younger son, David Richard Moore. He is survived by his son J. Donald Moore of Maryville, granddaughters Barbara Bleidorn of Maryville, Sharon John of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, Susan Gilday of Little Silver, New Jersey and Deborah Moore of Ocean, New Jersey. He has seven great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter. Elisha attended elementary school in Friendsville and graduated from Everett High School in 1928. He studied engineering at UT and enlisted in the Navy in 1932 where he served almost 24 years. His first naval assignment was the aircraft carrier Lexington (CV 2) during which he participated in the search for the lost aviator, Amelia Earhart. His career included World War II and the Korean War. During WW II, he served on ships of both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and was commissioned as an officer rising to the rank of Lieutenant. Following the war, he was part of the occupational force in Japan and participated in the testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. When he retired in December 1955, he was stationed at Clarksville Naval Base in Clarksville, Tennessee. Upon retirement, he and his family returned to Maryville where he became active in real estate, insurance and community affairs. He was a member of the Maryville Civitan Club, the Maryville Rotary Club, the Masons, and the Shriners. He was an active member of New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville, where he participated in activities of the Presbyterian Men, the Community Benefit Sale and Boy Scout Troop 88. Interment Services will be held at 1 PM, Wednesday, December 28 at Magnolia Cemetery followed at 3 PM by a Memorial Service and Reception at New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Providence Presbyterian Men at New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville, 982-6812, is in charge of arrangements.