L. Jerome Moore, Jr. (Jerry)

Published 1:09 am Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Resident of Bend, Oregon

July 18, 1923 – September 21, 2016

L. Jerome Moore, Jr., known as Jerry, was born in Fresno, California. He attended Jackson Elementary School, Longfellow Junior High and Theodore Roosevelt High School, for which he was one of the Commencement speakers at graduation, June 1941.

Jerry attended Stanford University and graduated in June 1946 with a BA in Economics. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and was instrumental in maintaining an active chapter during the WWII years even though the Chapter House was used by the University to house female students.

After graduating he went to work for Montgomery Ward in Oakland, California as a section head for warehouse operation and later was promoted to a merchandiser (re-buyer.)

In August 1948 he married Joan Carolyn Law, also a graduate of Stanford. They moved to Fresno in 1951 where Jerry worked as a methods engineer for a large trucking company. In December 1952 he joined a C.P.A. firm owned by Wayne H. Towne.

After passing the C.P.A. exam, Jerry opened his own practice on San Joaquin Street in downtown Fresno in October 1956. He had no employees and occupied only one room. In 1962 Bob Grider joined the practice. Stan Griggs and Bob Cowan followed as partners over the next several years. The firm spread its influence in Fresno initially through the efforts of these partners and a growing staff. Today, the firm is called Moore, Grider and Company and now has a staff of about 30 people. Annual revenue is approximately $3,500,000.

Jerry became the chapter advisor of the Fresno State College Sigma Chi Chapter in 1958. He helped in the acquisition of land and construction of a new chapter house on the campus of what is now California State University in Fresno.

Jerry’s marriage to Joan ended in 1972 by divorce. He married Margie McDonald in the Stanford University Memorial Chapel in 1978.

After he retired in 1985, he and Margie moved to Black Butte Ranch, Oregon. Jerry enjoyed playing golf, bridge and traveling. In February 2009 he and Margie moved to Bend, Oregon.

Jerry passed away September 21, 2016 after a battle with cancer. He was surrounded by Margie and his children, Janet Moore, from Livermore, Jeffrey Moore from Portland, Oregon, and Toby Moore, from Fresno, California.

Jerry is also survived by two grandchildren, Todd Hogan of San Jose, California and Kathryn Moore, who attends California State University, Long Beach, and 2 great-grandchildren, Caroline and Bradley Hogan.

The family will have a private ceremony. Donations may be made to the local Hospice organization in Bend, Oregon, Partners In Care, 2075 NE Wyatt Ct., Bend, OR 97701.