Patrick Benjamin Moore (Pat)

Patrick Benjamin Moore (Pat)

Patrick Benjamin Moore (Pat)
January 4, 1969 – October 9, 2023
East Bethel, Minnesota | Age 54

Patrick Benjamin Moore, 54, of East Bethel, Minnesota passed away on October 9, 2023 at the Mayo-Methodist Campus in Rochester. Patrick was born on January 4,1969, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN, to Scottie Stamos Moore and Eugene Robert Moore II.

Doctors explained that his spine was exposed and damaged during birth (spina bifida) and would be forever paralyzed from the waist down. Pat thrived at home and defied predictions of death at ages 1, 3, 6, and 12 with miraculous innovations in medicine as each milestone approached.

At age 3 Pat moved to Oskaloosa, IA, and attended Good Time Play School, where he continued to thrive and make friends who learned to look beyond his physical differences and were captivated by his early charm. Pat’s love of social interaction was clear from early on, and he was chosen to be March of Dimes Poster Child to help fund research.

Pat began his academic career at Webster Elementary School in 1974 due to the configuration of the building being easily accessible. A wonderful community of educators set the stage for his early success. In junior high, in addition to his coursework, he learned to play the synthesizer and excelled in band and jazz band. Pat had many friends who were girls who were delighted to dance with him at school dances, and lots of guy friends who saw the best in Pat.

In high school, Patrick continued to excel at his studies and extracurricular activities: Mock trial, debate, speech, student government, and as the lead statistician for the high school football and baseball teams. As part of Coach Jerry Staton’s winning tradition of working hard, Pat became a state weightlifting champion, able to bench press 2 1/2 times his body weight. Patrick graduated from Oskaloosa Sr. High School in 1987.

Patrick then attended Central College of Pella, Iowa, where he studied Accounting, and continued his love of Mock Trial, debate, and model student government. Pat had several girlfriends, but as a senior in college, he was introduced to Ruth Martin of New Sharon, IA, with whom he would eventually wed. He completed his BA degree in Accounting and followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a CPA. Pat also took the LSAT and proceeded to the University of Iowa College of Law, where he graduated with his JD, and passed the Minnesota bar examination.

Patrick and Ruth continued to date and fell deeply in love, marrying in 1994.

They moved to Minneapolis upon graduation where he clerked for Cooper’s & Lybrand, and was then hired by Arthur Anderson where he focused on accounting. Pat went on to work for 3M Corporation in international tax accounting, where he used both law and accounting skill sets. After several years, Pat decided to leave corporate life and focus on his true love of practicing law by joining Clark A. Joslin Law (eventually Joslin & Moore Law Office, PA) of Cambridge, Minnesota. Pat loved working as a local attorney in every aspect: from defending clients in court to helping them understand wills and trusts.

Pat served on many non-profit boards, including The ARC of Minnesota, Capable Partners, and Dallas Safari Club-Heartland Chapter. He started his own non-profit organization, Silent Ability, which was committed to helping physically challenged people remain active in outdoor sports. Patrick was an avid gun and bow enthusiast and hunter of deer, geese, grouse, ducks, turkeys, moose, elk, antelopes, and eventually bear. One of his greatest joys was taking his nephews and nieces on hunting and fishing trips throughout the US.

Pat worked with several children with physical limitations to help inspire them to live beyond their limitations. He was also well-known in the community for teaching NRA-certified gun safety and concealed carry classes. He noted with pride that Ruth’s chili was often served at his classes as a perk. Pat was a huge fan of fine food and especially drink. He loved building things in the garage, and even learned to weld (acetylene and spot welding). He was also the star of “Lawyers, Guns, and Money”, a weekly radio show on the Happy Trucker internet station. His true life forte was being able to genuinely connect with folks in all stations of life and appreciate them for who they were.

Pat was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October 2022, which led to his eventual demise. He defied all odds, and even astounded doctors at Mayo Clinic with his resiliency and comebacks right up to the end. He died on October 9, 2023, after leaving no medical stone unturned, surrounded by family at his bedside.

Patrick is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Ruth Martin Moore; his parents, Eugene and Scottie Moore of Oskaloosa, Iowa; his brothers: Matt (& Jill) Moore of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Shawn Moore (& Chuck Cordray); brother-in-law, John (& Kara) Martin of Des Moines, IA; sister-in-Law, Carol (& Shawn) Feddern of Ankeny, IA; along with nieces and nephews: Jack Moore, Zane Martin (& Tori Schaff), Rece (& Kaitlin) Martin, Ava Hayworth, Kathryn Cordray and Alexis Cordray; and great-nephew, Walker Martin. Not to be excluded are hundreds and hundreds of friends, acquaintances, and clients who came to adore and be inspired by Pat and witness his amazing life journey.

Patrick is preceded in death by his nephew, Nicholas Moore of Oskaloosa, IA, and his grandparents: Eugene & Alice Moore and George & Marie Stamos of Tipton, Iowa.

Everyone who has been part of Patrick’s journey is equally devastated to know that the amazing storyteller and life of the party who was Pat Moore is now exclusively part of our collective memories. Pat’s family invites you to attend one of two celebrations of life to be held in his honor and share your stories of Pat. A light lunch will be provided after presentations and sharing, and we request casual dress.

– 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Weds, October 18, at the Braham Event Center, 655 8th St SW, Braham, MN, 55006 (Presentations begin at 11:00)
– 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, Sat, October 21, Mahaska County YMCA, 1521 Green St, Oskaloosa, IA 52577 (Presentations begin at 11:00)

In lieu of flowers, Pat’s family requests donations to The Patrick Moore Charitable Foundation, where 100% of proceeds will be given to help special-needs kids overcome many of the same challenges Pat had to overcome in order to live a normal life. (23453 University Ave Ext NE, Bethel MN, 55005-9792)