P. Morris Moore

P. Morris Moore, 84 of Abingdon, passed away at 5:22 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2016 at Galesburg Cottage Hospital.

  He was born March 12, 1932 in New Salem, Pike County, Illinois, the son of Melvin G. and Pauline (Morris) Moore.  He married Reva Hetrick Ingels on April 20, 1962 in Griggsville.  She preceded him in death on March 19, 1989.  He was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Jim Harmison.

  Morris is survived by two sons, Jon D. Moore of Macomb and Douglas C. (Terri) Moore of Galesburg; his grandsons, Max Moore of Austin, Texas and Chad Moore of Galesburg; one sister, Sue Harmison of Bradley; and nieces and nephews.

  He graduated from Griggsville High School in 1950 and Western Illinois University in 1954.  He served in the Army and was stationed in Germany from 1954 to 1957.  He received his Masters Degree in Education Administration from Indiana State University in 1969.   He was a School Administrator for 34 years working in the Brown County, Schuyler County, Danvers and Franklin school districts before moving to Abingdon in 1969, where he first worked as the Principal at Abingdon High School and then later as the Principal of Hedding Grade School, retiring in June of 1993.

  He was a St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan.  He also played semi-pro baseball for the NiteHawks and his team played a team of major leaguers after the 1952 World Series and Morris went 2 for 3 against Fireball Virgil Trucks.

  Morris was of the Methodist Faith.  He was very active in his communities and he belonged to the following organizations.  He was a life member of over 50 years to Grand Lodge, AF & AM Griggsville Lodge #45, life member of the Lodge Council Chapter Consistory, Scottish Rites Bodies in the Valley of Peoria, charter member of the Illinois Principals Association, member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, life member of the Galesburg American Legion Post #285, member of Lions Club and member and past president of the Abingdon Kiwanis Club, he was a registered official with the Illinois High School Association, member of the Glenn Miller Society, member of “Bix Lives” and the Catfish Jazz Society of Moline, member of the Knox County United Way Board of Directors, he was a founder of the West-Central Illinois High School Principals Association of the 1970’s, life member of the Illinois Retired Teachers’ Association, member of the Knox County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and member of the John Mosser Library Board.

  Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel.  Burial will be in the Abingdon Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the chapel.

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Abingdon-Avon Public Schools Foundation.  Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.