Richard Jefferson Thomas

Moore

Richard Jefferson Thomas Moore

September 21, 1938 – November 4, 2026

Richard Jefferson Thomas Moore, known to family and friends as Tom, passed away on November 4, 2026, at the age of 88.

Born September 21, 1938, in Lake Butler, Florida, to Ben and Lela Moore, Tom spent much of his adult life in Texas, first in San Antonio, then Austin, and eventually the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Tom proudly served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5). He served as a medic with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and completed airborne training, earning his Parachutist Badge. Following his honorable discharge, he made Texas his home.

A skilled carpenter, Tom spent his working years doing a little bit of everything. He was a man of many interests, including reading, horse racing, and researching family history. An avid reader, he enjoyed a wide variety of books, particularly westerns and the novels of John Grisham.

Tom had a genuine love for people and a gift for connecting with them. He was a natural storyteller who enjoyed sharing memories, keeping in touch with old friends, and reconnecting with classmates from his high school years. He attended many class reunions, stayed active in organizing gatherings, and kept friendships alive through phone calls and Facebook.

One of Tom’s greatest interests was genealogy. Long before online family history resources were readily available, he traveled to county courthouses, family reunions, cemeteries, and other places in search of his family’s history. He devoted countless hours to discovering the stories and connections that linked generations.

Tom and his wife, Margo, shared 50 years of marriage. Their story began, fittingly, through his love of horse racing, when Tom hired Margo to work with his horse. Together they built a life and family that remained at the center of his world.

Tom loved his family deeply, especially his grandchildren, and treasured the time he spent with each of them. Though his soft heart wasn’t always apparent to everyone, those who knew him well understood how much he cared. He had a way of making connections and maintaining relationships that spanned generations and miles.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Margo; his sons, Ben Moore and wife Mary Ann Moore, and Kyle Moore; and his grandchildren, Alexis, Tyler, Piper, and James. He is also survived by his nephew, John “Red” Chapman and his wife, Denise; Red’s daughters, Ashley and Hallie; and his nephew, Richard Ernest Chapman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Lela Moore, and his sister, Betty Lee Chapman.

Tom will be remembered not only for his curiosity, kindness, and gift for storytelling, but also for the lasting mark he left on the people who knew him. Through his family, his friendships, and the stories that continue to be told, his life will remain part of the generations he cared so deeply about.