Everett Ray Moore

Everett Ray “Buck” Moore died at his Bastrop County home on August 25, 2010. Buck was born to Albert Benjamin and Mae Belle (Horn) Moore on August 13, 1919 in the Burnet County community of Briggs. At age 4 he was given the nickname “Buck” by the local blacksmith who said he couldn’t remember the name of the boy that often visited and quietly watched him work. He was Buck ever since to all he met and knew, except his Mom who reminded everyone that she named him Everett. He grew up hunting varmints, picking cotton (not very good at it), exploring the area in his donkey cart, and cowboying with his Father, who worked on the Fever Tick Control Program during the height of the Depression, throughout central and west Texas. At the age of 16 he became the man of the family on his Father’s death and helped move them to Austin before joining the Army Air Corps to serve in World War II. Buck was a mechanic and flight engineer in B 17 and B 29 bomber pilot training program stationed at Roswell, New Mexico, and flew with the new pilots throughout their training and first solo flights. At the suggestion from his brother, Odas, Buck started corresponding with Billie Louise Sullivan, a daughter of Zachary Taylor Sullivan, who ran a country store in the San Saba County community of Chapel. On furloughs they met, dated and then married on June 18, 1944. Buck and Billie lived in Roswell until the end of the war. They returned to Austin where he soon began wholesaling groceries for the Guggenheim Goldsmith Company to the small communities around Austin. Buck began working for Robert Bridges at Austin Feed and Ranch Supply, a Purina Feeds store located at Third and Neches and spent the next 16 years selling feed to the rural families of central Texas and making lifelong friends of those he served. He opened his own feed store, Buck Moore Feed and Supply at 5237 North Lamar in 1972. Buck’s passion was to help his customers and he often said, “I can do without your business, but not without your friendship”.  He retired in 2000 but Buck Moore Feed continues its traditions of quality and service now owned and operated by his son-in-law and grandson. He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Billie Moore and by his parents, his brother, Odas Moore, sisters Iris Williams, Letha McAndrew, Aleece Fewell, their spouses, and many other family members and friends. He is survived by sisters Iva Rue Montgomery and Bennie Mae Wimberley, daughter Patty Bushong and her husband Ken, son Billy Moore and his wife Kathleen, grandchildren Tommie Bushong, his wife Ashley and their children Meagan and Nathan of Bastrop, John Bushong, his wife Dejah and their children Tommy and Vella of Oakalla, and Zachary Moore and John Moore of Bastrop, and numerous family and friends. Visitation will be on Friday, August 27, from 5 to 8 pm at Bastrop Providence Funeral Home at 2079 Highway 71 East. Services are scheduled for Saturday, August 28 at 10 am at the same location with graveside services at Fairview Cemetery following. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Buck’s name to Hospice Austin.