James Moore

James Sidney Moore passed peacefully on June 7, 2023 at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett, Missouri.

James was born on July 1, 1924 in Springfield, Missouri to his parents J. Hal Moore and Thelma Potter Moore.

He was a 1942 graduate of Pierce City High School in Pierce City, Missouri. He attended Monett Junior College until he was inducted into the Army at Camp Fannin, Texas on June 9, 1943. 

While enlisted, the Army sent him to Texas A& M to study Engineering. After 6 months at Texas A& M, the Army decided they needed soldiers to fight in the war more than they needed Engineers and sent him back to the infantry. He served until April 9, 1946.

Upon returning from the Army, James attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, studying Civil Engineering, then the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, studying Architecture, lastly graduating from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, with a Degree in Architecture.

After graduating, James went to work for Pereira and Luckman in Los Angeles, CA as the Vice President of the Medical Facilities Division. Following his time at Pereira, he went on to work for Charles Luckman Associates in Los Angeles as Vice President and Partner in charge of all medical and hospital facilities.

In 1961, James left Charles Luckman Associates to establish his own firm, Medical Planning Associates (MPA). MPA specialized in large scale health care projects, including the design and space programming for two Naval Ships, Mercy and Comfort. These ships were the world’s first floating hospitals, which still to this day deliver urgent health care for the USA and other developing nations around the globe. MPA had offices in Malibu, CA and Tehran, Iran. James sold MPA in 1973 but continued to work for the company until he retired in 1976.

After retirement, James moved to Lake Tahoe, Nevada where he traveled, spent time with friends and enjoyed myriad activities that stemmed from his passion for cars and boats.

James moved back to his hometown, Pierce City, Missouri, where he purchased Jolly Mill. He founded the Jolly Mill Park Foundation which became the economic anchor that supported and developed the park to the public spectacle of interest that it is today. James has personally vested time and interest into the park designing, building, digging, planting and placing of every rock.

He considered Jolly Mill his home, his love and his legacy. James was preceded in death by his parents, J. Hal Moore, Sr. And Thelma Potter Moore Morris, brother J. Hal Moore, Jr, and sister-in-law Hazeldene Moore Norman.

He is survived by a niece Cindy Moore, two nephews, Matt and Jeff Moore, and a family of friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life held on July 15, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Jolly Mill Park, Pierce City, MO.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Jolly Mill Park Foundation, P.O. Box 8960, Springfield, MO 65801.