Obituary of Barry Kells Moore

June 23, 1927 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
December 28, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our Dad. He was one of a kind. 

Dad was born in Winnipeg Manitoba on June 23, 1927, the third child of Kells and Ethel Moore. He was raised in a happy home in Winnipeg, with a loving family. Dad was an active boy, involved in many activities including singing (he loved being a “boy soprano”), was an Air Cadet, and a good gymnast. Following the death of his brother in WWII, Dad developed a lifelong interest in all aspects of war and read many books about World War II.  

Dad defined his life in ‘Turning Points.’ His ‘Turning Point #1’ came shortly after he graduated from high school, when his brother’s widow sent him a letter suggesting that he move from Winnipeg to Alberta to work in the oil fields. He found employment during the birth of the oil industry in and around Leduc as a roughneck on the rigs, and later a derrick man. 

‘Life Turning Point #2’ came in September 1949, when he was visiting Calgary, and bumped into a friend on the street, who told him about an “Associate in Petroleum Engineering Diploma” that was offered at Mount Royal College, in conjunction with the University of Tulsa. He completed the Engineering Diploma program and went on to receive a Bachelor of Geology Degree.

1953 saw Dad’s ‘Life Turning Point #3’ when he interviewed for employment with Socony Vacuum Oil Company. His first day of employment as a geologist was on June 22, 1953. Socony soon became Mobil Oil, and Dad remained a loyal employee there for 36 years. This is also where he met a pretty young geophysicist, who he was quite taken with, Miss Marguerite Orr. Their courtship is the segue into ‘Life Turning Point #4’ – being February 14, 1959, when he married the love of his life. 

The sixties were busy for Dad, with his career and family in full bloom. Dad built the house in University Heights in 1965, and lived there, with Marguerite, until his death. Dad was a very traditional father – he provided for the family, and basically did whatever else Mom told him to do, all the while having the utmost respect and admiration for what Mom did, which he would acknowledge was clearly more than him! 

The seventies introduced Dad to dogs, specifically the Hungarian Vizsla breed, and he raised three of these copper toned beauties to their full life expectancy - Boomer, Max and then Boon. All of Dad’s dogs received their Companion Dog Obedience designation with Dad as their trainer. 

Dad retired from Mobil Oil on June 1, 1989, and that is when he really let loose! His first project was to finalize the building of the family vacation home on Lac Brule in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal. It was a labour of love, with Dad now having the time to do much of the work himself. He was a lifelong ‘tinkerer’ and enjoyed getting his hands dirty. In his post-retirement years, he pursued many passions, including his work with stained glass and his regular trips to the Olympic Oval in Calgary, where he would do laps of the ice on his updated speed skates. In his later years, he somehow managed to acquire and learn to ride a motorcycle – the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. His greatest post-retirement accomplishment was his book: ‘Dad’s Story:  The Life & Times of Barry Kells Moore.’  He finished it on his 80th birthday, and published it in a hard cover limited edition. It is a marvelous legacy to leave his children and grandchildren.

Dad’s illustrious career did not solely define him. He was a devoted son to Ethel and Kells and a devoted brother to Eileen and Bob. A devoted husband of 62 years to Marguerite. A devoted father to Carolyn, Lisa, Alison, Nick, and Tony. A devoted father-in-law to Derek, Keith, and Julie. A devoted grandfather to Bryce, Samantha, Jaclyn, Carson, Brendan, Kells, Esmé and Grayson. A devoted brother-in-law to Norm and Joy. A devoted uncle to Noreen, Ben, and their families. A devoted friend to countless others. His family and friends are what defined Dad, and he will be lovingly missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of his life will occur at a later date. Condolences, memories and photos may also be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, sympathy may be expressed through donations made directly to a charity of your choice.