Archie C. Moore Dies; Was 52-Year Resident

 

Archie Clifford Moore

Archie Clifford Moore, a Sitka resident since 1971, passed away Aug. 12 in Sitka. He was 85.

Archie was born April 26, 1938, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Life on the Black Road (St. Clair Road in Johnstown wasn’t enough for Archie. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, completed six years of service, then chased his dream of going to Alaska.

After his arrival in the new state, he attended the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, got his degree, and met his future wife, Phyllis Hill of Hooper Bay. They married in 1966 and their son Frank was born in Fairbanks the following year.

The Fairbanks flood of 1967 destroyed all their possessions and they began traveling around the interior of the state working for the Geophysical Institute. In 1968, their second son, James, was born in Tanana. Archie had the first Boston Whaler on that part of the Yukon and the first Ski-Doo in Tanana.

The FAA became the next employer, and in 1969 their third son, Andy, was born in Juneau. After working in Gustavus for just over a year, they made Sitka their home in 1971.

In Sitka, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service and was owner of Moovies & Moore and Island Communications Paging. 

In 1997, Noah Vaden became their first grandchild. Skylar and Grace followed in 2000, and in 2002, Isaiah and Makayla made it a group of five.

With their boats, the Polly Jane, the Barcaro, and the Nora Bunik, the family had many adventures in the numerous bays and coves around Chichagof and Baranof Islands, including an incredible trip into Glacier Bay. The Raven is wise to life on shore, but those sea birds sure know about life outside the harbor.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Moore, of Sitka; and sons Frank Moore of Sitka, James Moore (Ernesta Storch) of Paradise, California, and Andy Moore of Juneau.

His grandchildren are Noah Vaden of Haines; Skylar Moore and Makayla Moore of Sitka; and Grace Anderson (Austin Anderson) and Isaiah Moore of Fairbanks.

His sister, Martha Makosky, niece Dr . Esther (Roo) Uzzle (Matthew Uzzle) of Marshall, Virginia; sister Grace Layton (Bob Layton), niece Beth Layton of Toronto, Canada, nephew Ed Layton of Kansas City, Kansas, and niece Paula Layton of Shawnee, Kansas; and brother Tom Moore (Sherry Moore), nephew Jake Moore, and niece Lex Stenger (Justin Stenger) all of Johnstown, also survive.

No services or burial will be held. His ashes will be with his wife, Phyllis, at the Sitka Pioneers Home.

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