Rev. Donald C. Moore

Rev. Donald Chapman Moore entered the gates of Heaven on October 9, 2018.  He passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus at 5:05 P.M. with his son Ben and wife Judith by his side. 

Don was born in Amity, Arkansas on June 26, 1929 at his mother’s family home.  He was the 4th of six children and the oldest son born to Rev. Eugene W. and Mary Claudeen Oden Moore. Don’s father was a first generation Nazarene preacher and served in many churches throughout the Southwestern United States.  Don attended 12 schools in 12 years.  He began preaching at 16 before he graduated from  Phoenix Highschool and put himself through Bethany Peniel College (Southern Nazarene University) and the Nazarene Seminary by holding revival meetings. 

While in Seminary he began a new church in a storefront with Jarrell Garsee and Don Owens.  Following Seminary graduation, he was called to serve at the Arden Church of the Nazarene in Sacramento, CA. and led that congregation through the construction of their sanctuary.  In 1963 he was called to Seattle First Church of the Nazarene.

He then served as Associate Pastor of the Friends Memorial Church in Seattle and then  Senior Pastor at The Cherry Grove Friends Church in Battle Ground, WA. where he led that congregation through a major building program.

Upon returning to Seattle in 1980 and at age 55, he felt led to return to school and earned a Master’s in Counseling degree from Seattle University.  He counseled in several private mental health centers and then set up his own practice at Seattle First Nazarene Church and then Nampa First Nazarene Church.

He and his wife, Judy, moved to Nampa in 2001 to be near son Ben and wife, Lynette.  Don and Judy became known as Papa and Baba to grandson Benny and granddaughter Jordan. 

In 2003 Don was called to pastor the Franklin Community Church located on Hwy 20/26 in north Nampa.  He served there with his wife Judy, for 8 years and assisted them in celebrating their Centennial.  Following this ministry, he and Judy became Co-Chaplains at Sunny Ridge Rehab and Retirement Community in Nampa where Judy still serves along with David Ferdinand who has been preaching there since Don could no longer see well enough to continue.

Don suffered with heart disease even after open heart surgery in 2014, complications resulting from alzheimers and became functionally blind during the last two years which for him, who was a scholar, not being able to read anymore was truly painful.

His last days were spent in the care of Patty Shaver in her Certified Family Home in south Nampa where he was one of two patients.  Patty was a gift from the Lord to him and to our family.  She loved him and treated him with such kindness and honor.  We are so sad for ourselves that he is not in this world any longer but no one was more ready to go to heaven than Donald Chapman Moore where he is reunited with his parents, siblings, son Rolf great gatherings of friends and persons to whom he ministered.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene W. and Mary Claudeen Moore, sister twins Decima Jean Hostutler and Melva Deen Beeman, brothers Maurice Moore and Dr. Darrell Moore, son Rolf and other relatives.  He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Judith Moore, son Benjamin E Moore, (Lynette);  daughters Rhonda Williams & Wendy Delagarza; sister Donna Casey (Ralph); grandsons Jackson & James Delagarza, Benny Moore, Donald Avery, Robert John Williams; granddaughters Racheal Avery Martin & Jordan Moore, numerous nieces & nephews and 4 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Pastor Don’s life will be held Sat. Nov. 3, 2018 at 10:30 am at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene located at 601  16th Ave S, Nampa, ID  83651.

A Donald Moore Memorial Fund has been established with the Global Treasury Services of the Nazarene Church.  Contributions will support the IT ministry teams that go to third world countries to engineer internet access for universities and seminaries.  Checks can be made out to Global Treasury Church of the Nazarene and note that it is for the Donald Moore Memorial – APT1002 Global IT.  Mail to Global Treasury service Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184-3116 or go to https://give.nazarene.org/fund/globalitmoorememorial.   Donations are tax deductible.

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