The Honorable John Lee Moore, 78, Oregon, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 in Blind River, Ontario, Canada.

He was born Sept. 27, 1931 in Ortinville, Minn., to Harold Leslie and Lillian Olive Ruud Moore. 

He spent most of his life in Rochelle, where his father, the former mayor of Rochelle, and Uncle Lewis Moore owned Moore's Hardware Store. 

He then settled in Oregon in 1955 after marrying Carol Ann Helen McDonald Moore, now deceased. 

Moore attended Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, and completed undergraduate work at Beloit College, Wis. 

He then received his doctorate of juris prudence from Northwestern University School of Law, Evanston. 

As a young attorney in Chicago, Moore worked for Country Companies Insurance Company before moving to Oregon to join Gerald Garard in private practice, forming the law firm of Garard and Moore. 

He served as Ogle County State's Attorney for two years. 

He was then elected to the office of Circuit Court Judge, where he presided for 25 years before retiring as Chief Circuit Court Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit. 

He was a past president of the Oregon Lion's Club, a perpetual member of the Oregon Golf Club, and active in the Republican Party. 

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Parish where he helped promote and support the St. Mary's Catholic school. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. 

He was an avid reader, a gourmet cook, enjoyed golfing and collecting coins. 

He felt gravely for the underprivileged in the world and graced us with his thoughtful wit. 

His thoughtfulness and generosity was profoundly felt by many. 

Moore is survived by his daughter Mary Kathryn Moore, Oregon; and two sisters, Nona Paul, San Diego, Calif., and Florence Whinnery, Anchorage, Alaska. 

He will be remembered fondly by the community in which he served and missed sorely by his family.

Christian Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. at the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Oregon, with the Rev. Richard Kramer officiating. 

Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. 

Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary service at Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, Oregon. 

To leave online condolences, visit www.farrellhollandgale.com.