Obituary for Vicki Lea Moore (Moore)
Pisgah Forest - Vicki Lea Moore (Moore) passed away Thursday Oct. 6, 2022 in Mission Memorial Hospital, Asheville, after a brief illness. She was 68. She was the daughter of James Oliver Moore and Beverly Ann Riggs-Moore.
Born December 29, 1953 in San Diego, Vicki grew up in nearby El Cajon before the family moved to Torrance, CA at the age of 15. During her high school years, she was actively involved with teacher Gomer James’s day hikes and the Hiking Club. Vicki and her friend Marilyn did their first backpack with Mr. James just after graduation - Tuolumne Meadows to Matterhorn Canyon in Yosemite (50 miles round trip). They were the first girls that Mr. James took on his backpacks.
Vicki graduated from Gardena High School in 1972 and was accepted to Los Angeles Harbor College where she earned her degree in English. Her last ‘classroom’ was the Sierra Club’s Basic Mountaineering Training Course (BMTC) in 1976. Many outdoor adventures then followed.
Her five week John Muir Trail backpack in 1977 with her high school friend Marilyn was the probably the most memorable outdoor adventure of her life - 37 days in the wilderness. The trail began in Yosemite National Park and traveled 210 miles along the High Sierra mountain range through the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses, the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, culminating at the highest peak in the continental United States - Mount Whitney, 14,505’.
Exercise for Vicki in the 80’s was running on the ‘Strand’ after work in Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches. Fun runs were made with the Hash House Harriers, an international group of non-competitive running social clubs.
At one of Vicki’s employers, TRW Aerospace, while in the Wilderness Club there, she met her husband Tom, where both shared their love of the outdoors on numerous backpacks and day hikes taken. Her marriage on Oct. 23, 1993 to Tom, a first time marriage for each of them, was held in the high desert community of Joshua Tree, CA. A honeymoon to Hawaii, a first-time visit for Vicki, ensued.
Vicki loved to travel with England being one of her favorite places, always visiting friends Bernie and Joyce there. In 1983, Vicki lived in Munich, Germany for nearly a year with her parents stationed there. She and her husband also traveled to Australia (inc. Tasmania), Scotland, Wales, Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, Hawaii (several times) and many of the National Parks in the West. For their 25th wedding anniversary in 2018 they celebrated with an 11 day trip to Iceland. When retirement prevailed, a lower cost of living was desired and, together with their two cats, they departed Redondo Beach, CA and drove cross-country to the mountains of western North Carolina.
Katie, her longtime friend of over 50 years, said “when we would go out for lunch, a movie, shopping or getting our hair cut, Vicki would always run into people she knew. It seemed like everywhere she went, she had a friend. I was always impressed by how Vicki was everyone's friend and went out of her way for them.” The custom continued here in Brevard in her walks around downtown with Karen and visiting various merchants, including Daughn at the Visitor Center. Vicki was very patient and helpful with people she met who needed physical or emotional support.
An avid reader, Vicki loved books and her dream job would have been to work in a library or a coffeehouse/bookstore.
She leaves behind the love of her life, her husband of nearly 29 years, Thomas Paul Moore. In addition to her husband, Vicki is survived by her brother, William Edward Moore of Columbus, NC, his wife Janet and their sons Steven and Jayden. She is predeceased by her parents.
A memorial service will be held at noon Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard (LCGS), 22 Fisher Rd., Brevard with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given either to the LCGS, or to Transylvania County Emergency Medical Services (TCEMS), 101 S. Broad St., Brevard 28712 or to Transylvania County Library Foundation, 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.
Born December 29, 1953 in San Diego, Vicki grew up in nearby El Cajon before the family moved to Torrance, CA at the age of 15. During her high school years, she was actively involved with teacher Gomer James’s day hikes and the Hiking Club. Vicki and her friend Marilyn did their first backpack with Mr. James just after graduation - Tuolumne Meadows to Matterhorn Canyon in Yosemite (50 miles round trip). They were the first girls that Mr. James took on his backpacks.
Vicki graduated from Gardena High School in 1972 and was accepted to Los Angeles Harbor College where she earned her degree in English. Her last ‘classroom’ was the Sierra Club’s Basic Mountaineering Training Course (BMTC) in 1976. Many outdoor adventures then followed.
Her five week John Muir Trail backpack in 1977 with her high school friend Marilyn was the probably the most memorable outdoor adventure of her life - 37 days in the wilderness. The trail began in Yosemite National Park and traveled 210 miles along the High Sierra mountain range through the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses, the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, culminating at the highest peak in the continental United States - Mount Whitney, 14,505’.
Exercise for Vicki in the 80’s was running on the ‘Strand’ after work in Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches. Fun runs were made with the Hash House Harriers, an international group of non-competitive running social clubs.
At one of Vicki’s employers, TRW Aerospace, while in the Wilderness Club there, she met her husband Tom, where both shared their love of the outdoors on numerous backpacks and day hikes taken. Her marriage on Oct. 23, 1993 to Tom, a first time marriage for each of them, was held in the high desert community of Joshua Tree, CA. A honeymoon to Hawaii, a first-time visit for Vicki, ensued.
Vicki loved to travel with England being one of her favorite places, always visiting friends Bernie and Joyce there. In 1983, Vicki lived in Munich, Germany for nearly a year with her parents stationed there. She and her husband also traveled to Australia (inc. Tasmania), Scotland, Wales, Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, Hawaii (several times) and many of the National Parks in the West. For their 25th wedding anniversary in 2018 they celebrated with an 11 day trip to Iceland. When retirement prevailed, a lower cost of living was desired and, together with their two cats, they departed Redondo Beach, CA and drove cross-country to the mountains of western North Carolina.
Katie, her longtime friend of over 50 years, said “when we would go out for lunch, a movie, shopping or getting our hair cut, Vicki would always run into people she knew. It seemed like everywhere she went, she had a friend. I was always impressed by how Vicki was everyone's friend and went out of her way for them.” The custom continued here in Brevard in her walks around downtown with Karen and visiting various merchants, including Daughn at the Visitor Center. Vicki was very patient and helpful with people she met who needed physical or emotional support.
An avid reader, Vicki loved books and her dream job would have been to work in a library or a coffeehouse/bookstore.
She leaves behind the love of her life, her husband of nearly 29 years, Thomas Paul Moore. In addition to her husband, Vicki is survived by her brother, William Edward Moore of Columbus, NC, his wife Janet and their sons Steven and Jayden. She is predeceased by her parents.
A memorial service will be held at noon Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard (LCGS), 22 Fisher Rd., Brevard with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given either to the LCGS, or to Transylvania County Emergency Medical Services (TCEMS), 101 S. Broad St., Brevard 28712 or to Transylvania County Library Foundation, 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.