Larry Raymond Moore was born January 25, 1952, in Woodward, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Raymond Gerald “R.G.” and Lola Faye (Ralston) Moore. Larry passed from this life on May 29, 2023, surrounded by his family. Larry attended school at Taloga where he graduated in 1970. Larry showed pigs and sheep during high school, exhibiting the Grand Champion Barrow at the Woodward District Show with a Poland pig his brothers helped him pick out. Following high school, Larry attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University and then transferred to Oklahoma State University where he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education and Animal Science in 1975. Larry was on the 1973 OSU Livestock Judging team which won Reserve Champion honors at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago and Champion honors at both Denver and Fort Worth under coach Bob Kropp.
Larry student taught in Yukon with Richie Oakes under the guidance of Mac DeVilbiss and both were then hired to teach with Mac the following year. Larry completed a second year of teaching at Yukon with Mac and Verlin “Red” Goodson. Larry met and married his wife of 46 years, Denise Peters of Union City on April 23, 1977, and together they moved to Aline where he taught in the Aline-Cleo Schools until December 1988. During this time, Larry and Denise began raising show pigs and their children Mindy and Dustin were born.
In December 1988, Larry moved back home to Taloga where he worked as the Agricultural Extension Agent in Dewey and Major Counties for 2 years. In 1995, Larry returned to teaching and taught atTaloga until retiring in 2006. Larry taught agricultural education for a total of twenty-four years and prided himself on having 65 students that received their State FFA Degree and 6 that received their American FFA Degree. There were also countless top honors won by his 4-H and FFA students at county, district, and state shows, including a time in his early years at Aline- Cleo where his students won all but a couple of the sheep and hog classes at the Major County Stock Show.
Larry found much success in the show pig industry, raising yorks, polands, and crossbreds. Larry had over 100 sows for a number of years and sold numerous pigs through the Okeene Pig Sale and Circle of Gold Sale before starting his own sale, the One Moore Pig Sale. Larry’s list of accomplishments with pigs he raised includes 1 Grand Champion and 2 Reserve Grand Champions at the Oklahoma Spring Livestock Show (now known as the Oklahoma Youth Expo), 3 Grand Champion barrows and 1 Reserve Grand barrow at the Houston Livestock Show, Grand Champion at the Louisiana State Fair, and a number of county and district champions. There are many success stories of Larry allowing someone to have a pig for a small amount of money that later won. Larry would say, “I think this one’s got a chance, take him and feed him.” He was also successful with many breeding animals at national shows and raised several highly acclaimed boars.
Raising livestock was a family affair and Larry and Denise used their hog business to instill a strong work ethic in their children. They worked to help each of their kids develop their own livestock projects and find success in the show ring and through the FFA.
Larry judged numerous county, district, and national shows including the San Antonio Gilt Show, World Pork Expo, El Paso Sheep Show, and the Fall Classic and enjoyed hosting collegiate livestock judging teams for workouts.
After retiring, Larry became passionate about raising Angus cattle and enjoyed working with his border collie Snip. He continued his passion for the 4-H and FFA livestock show programs by serving on the Woodward District Livestock Show committee and the Oklahoma Youth Expo Gilt Superintendent. Larry received the Honorary State FFA Degree in 2015 and was the Woodward District Livestock Show Black Jacket honoree in 2019. Larry also served on the National Yorkshire Board.
Larry was better known as Papa to his 4 grandchildren, Kelsey, Kelton, Delainee, and Cambree.
He enjoyed watching each of them in their activities whenever he could. They have fond memories of riding the 4-wheeler with him, attending his “cow camp”, and roasting marshmallows after picking up sticks. He always had a lifesaver in his front shirt pocket that he would share with them.
Larry was a member of the Lenora Methodist Church where he served on many committees. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Denise of the home, his two children, Mindy Dowdle and husband Brian of Leedey and son Dustin Moore and wife Cricket of Cordell; his grandchildren Kelsey and Kelton Dowdle of Leedey and Delainee and Cambree Moore of Cordell; his sister Betty Obermiller of Fairview, brothers Roger Moore and wife Judy of Taloga, Gail Moore and wife Verle of Taloga; and sister Eva Lea Atkinson and husband Elbert of Sweetwater; and many nieces and nephews.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Gerald “R.G.” and Lola Faye Moore of Taloga, niece Charla Myers of Fairview, and great niece Kylie Hollrah.
Memorial Donations in Larry’s honor may be made to the Larry Moore Memorial Fund, ℅ Shaw Funeral Home, PO Box 276, Vici, OK 73659.