Kelsey Leon Moore

Kelsey Leon Moore, age 90, died June 3, 2021 at home in De Queen, Ark. He was born on November 16, 1930, to the late Harley Andrew Moore, Sr., and Thelma Lucille Paulk Moore in Texarkana, Texas. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harley A. Moore, Jr., and wives Edythe and Joy and Billy Ray Moore and wife Pauline, and his in-laws James T. and Louise McGuyre. Survivors include wife, Mona Louise McGuyre Moore; son, Dr. James Murray Moore and wife, Ginger; daughters, Carol Rose Moore Hall and husband, David, Connie Jean Moore, and Cathy Leigh Moore Seal and husband, Billy; and son, Kelsey McGuyre (Mac) Moore and wife, Jane. His grandchildren include John Hall (Lacey), Katie Bonilla (Jose), Sarah Neumeier, Jim Moore (Natalia), Susan Ward, Mary Wheeler (Brandon), Matt Hall (Laura), Daniel Seal (Kenzie), Kelsey McGuyre Moore, Jr., and Evie Moore. Great-grandchildren are Tucker, Mia Mona-Jean and Allie Rose Hall; Andi, Laney, Evan and Asher Hall, Grady and Hayleigh Seal, Ben and Jack Moore, Annalise and Joscelyn Bonilla, Lily and Merrick Wheeler; and great-great-granddaughter, Emerson Rose Hall. Kelsey graduated from Texas High School in Texarkana in 1948 and earned a basketball scholarship to Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he graduated in 1952 with a Masters Degree in Administrative Education. He married Mona McGuyre on June 14, 1953, at the Methodist Church in Foreman, on a day many remembered as being the hottest day in June ever. They would have been married 68 years this month. Kelsey was drafted into the Army and was attached to Company D 5th Heavy Tank Brigade 6th Armed Division. While serving in the Army, his first son Jimmy was born in 1954. After discharge from the Army, he was hired as head basketball coach at Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas. Triplet girls, Carol, Connie, and Cathy arrived in 1956. Kelsey joked about having his family increase from three to six overnight and about the triplets running him out of the coaching profession. The family then moved to Foreman, Ark., where Kelsey went into business with his father-in-law at McGuyre Chevrolet, and their last child, Mac, was born in 1957. During his 18 years in Foreman, Kelsey was President and Lt. Governor of Kiwanis. He was active in the Methodist Church serving as Lay Leader, Chairman of the Administrative Board, the Finance Committee and the Building Committee for a new church. He was also very involved in the school and coached both senior high and junior high football and basketball as well as being a principal. He sold McGuyre Chevrolet in Foreman and Kelsey bought the dealership in De Queen and ran Kelsey Moore Chevrolet until he retired in 2000. Kelsey was a natural athlete and excelled in many sports. He lettered in basketball, tennis, and baseball in college, but his passion was golf. He was a championship golfer and won many tournaments in the Tri-State area. He was elected president of the Arkansas Senior Golf Association in 2003 and selected to play on the ASGA team in Great Fall, New York. Kelsey taught his sons and grandsons the techniques and etiquette of golf, and they had some great times playing together at Little River Country Club. He also taught them all the love of hunting and fishing. Kelsey was a devoted husband to his wife, and a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and father-in-law. He showed them all by example that hard work pays off, and just through observation he taught all the children patience, perseverance, loyalty and love. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The funeral service will be Monday, June 7 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 5th St. and Heynecker Ave, De Queen, Ark., with Reverend Steve Copley presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Dollarhide Cemetery in Foreman, Ark. Pallbearers are grandsons John Hall, Matthew Hall, Jim Moore, Daniel Seal, Tucker Hall and Kelsey McGuyre Moore, Jr. Visitation will be Sunday, June 6 from 3-5 p.m. at Wilkersons Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 488, De Queen, Ark. 71832 or your favorite charity.