Moor 65th

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Fred and Edith Moor

Featured in: June 2014

MOOR 65th

Fred had just returned to La Sierra College to complete per-med following his 22 month stint in the army when he met Edith Louise James, who had vowed never to marry a veteran, or a doctor. His heart and humor won hers. They were wed on June 27, 1948, of Rupp Memorial Chapel, Lynnwood, Calif.

Edie's childhood years in India left her yearning to someday return to mission life. Fred dreamed of Africa, so impressed was he with all those stirring Sabbath School stories amply illustrated by the sandbox displays.

Nearing the termination of his internship following medical training at Loma Linda University, a mission opportunity arose in Nicaragua. By December 1953, the couple and their two young sons landed on the Caribbean coast where Fred became medical director of a 25-bed hospital. While Edie taught diet therapy to the student nurses and managed the dietetics department, they also added a daughter to their family.

It became evident that the institution needed to be in a more central location. La Trinidad was chosen, Fred drew up plans, and construction of the new hospital ensued. Before completion however the Moors added one more son to the family — the first baby to be born in the new, still-unfinished hospital.

The new location allowed access to the institution by the country's general population thus increasing its influence.

It was a teary day 14 years later (1968) that the family took a permanent return for the children's education.

Southern California became home for three years while Fred finished his four years of training in orthopedic surgery. Then they moved north to Walla Walla, Wash. While getting the brood through college, Edie made sure the family and home were well cared for. Nine years in northern California preceded retirement in 1994 to Battle Ground, Wash., near their four children. Of those working years, their mission service experiences remain by far the highlight.

The Moor family includes Ben and Kathy Moor of Kelso, Wash.; Jim and Lynae Moor of Battle Ground, Wash.; RuthAnn and David Wyman of Battle Ground; Michael and Deborah Moor of Loma Linda, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandsons. Their grandson Brandon died in 2005.