Gary R. Moore, 59, of Rapids City, lost his battle with cancer at home surrounded by his family and friends on Monday, March 4, 2013. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 8, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, 6601 38th Ave., Moline. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established to send children to Bible camp. Gary was born on Jan. 21, 1954, in Moline, the son of Everett "Moe" and Francesca Nagel Moore. He married Cheryl Calhoon-Mullins in June 1985, in Bettendorf. For 30 years, Gary worked as a fork lift driver for John Deere East Moline Works, retiring in 2003. He also was a representative for Deere in the Fork Lift Rodeo. Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Moore, Rapids City; children, Melissa Kay (Cord) Brandt, Hillsdale, Jeremy Ray (Amanda) Moore, Grand Island, Fla., and Lacie Dawn Mullins, Rapids City; five grandchildren, Aidan Moore, Dustin Pursley, Emily Moore, Nicholas Pursley and Jace Moore; and sister, Francine Parr. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Colleen Poncin. Online condolences may be left for his family by visiting esterdahl.com.
Today is Tuesday, May 21, the 141st day of 2013. There are 224 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: On Monday the 11th inst. on Center Ridge in Mercer County,some citizens got out their cannon to celebrate the taking of Richmond. The gun wasoverloaded and burst. No one was injured, but one 30-pound piece went though thesecond story of a house. 1888 -- 125 years ago: The old folks concert at the Harper Theater last night to benefit St.Luke's Cottage Hospital, attracted a large audience. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Unless depredation by vandals in Rock Island parks is halted,special policemen will be assigned to night duty to protect the flowers and other property. 1938 -- 75 years ago: Station WHBF has received a special citation from Washington forits participation in Air Mail Week, which was observed this week throughout the nation. 1963 -- 50 years ago: A 10-year high in employment in the Quad-City area was reachedat the end of the last quarter, according to an industrial employment barometer releasedtoday. 1988 -- 25 years ago: Pee Wee teams will be able to play baseball and softball as usualon Diamond Three at Dorrance Park this summer, but after that, the ball field is doomed.County crews have put the diamond back in shape after heavy trucks marred the playingfield earlier this spring. Illinois Department of Transportation crews drove onto it to makeborings for the relocation of the junction of Illinois 84 and the Port Byron-Hillsdale road.