Thomas Moore

Thomas Lester Moore, 78, of Copperas Cove, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2022. A Graveside Service with full military honors will be held at 2:00 pm, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. Visitation will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at Viss Family Funeral Home, 1614 S FM 116, Copperas Cove, Texas 76522.

Thomas Lester Moore was born to Bessie Alene Robinson on Thursday, 16 December 1943. He spent his youngest years romping through the hollows of Limestone County, Alabama with his grandparents and gaggles of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends- all of whom he held fond memories of throughout his lifetime. In 1949, his mother married Rivers Daly (Pete) in whom Tommy gained a steadfast father and friend. A move to Marengo, Indiana gave Tommy the opportunity to stir up mayhem in a whole new environment.

He graduated from Marengo High School in 1962, after which he joined the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst. It was while he was in basic training when Tom spied a photo in a fellow trainee's locker that changed the course of his life. The photo was of the other trainee's sister, Velia Vasco Nelson. After lengthy, letter-writing correspondence and a quick courtship, Tom and Velia were married on Monday, 02 August 1965 in Panama City, Florida. The young couple fell into the nomadic lifestyle of the military and lived in several different places around the world. Tom joined the active reserve in 1968 while simultaneously working for Bell South in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1974, Tom and Velia welcomed their first son, Nelson Daly, and then, two years later, in 1976, they added their youngest son, Shawn Alan, to the family. Active in his sons' lives, Tom attended an infinite amount of sporting events and also became a scout leader for their time in the Boy Scouts. In 1987, the family moved from Marengo, Indiana to Limestone County, Alabama. Tom continued to serve in the United States Active Reserves with the 87th MAC and as an employee of Bell South. He retired from both careers in the early 2000s after which he was employed by Adtran as a senior instructor. With the job, he traveled all over the country.

In 2003, Tom became a grandfather, a role in which he relished and gained much joy.  In 2014, Tom and Velia moved to Copperas Cove, Texas in order to be closer to their grandchildren.

Tom passed away on Thursday, 26 May 2022 after suffering a multitude of ailments.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Bessie and Rivers (Pete).

He is survived by his wife of 56½ years, Velia; his sons, Nelson and Shawn; his grandchildren, Ashley, Jax, Joey, and Emily; his daughter-in-law, Jenny; and many cousins who he loved like siblings.

An obituary is too short to describe the man Tom Moore was behind the facts. He was a man of God, he was mischievous, funny, loyal, smart, and full of stories. Family meant the world to him and if someone he loved needed help, he was there no matter how late, how far the drive, or what needed to be done. He made everyone feel welcome in his presence. He was a hero like that.