Hammond Mathew Moore

AIKEN, SC- HAMMOND MATHEW MOORE, 94, died Friday, 19, 2013 at his residence. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Tanja, who was his one true love for a lifetime; his daughter, Pamela Moore of Edgefield, SC and his son, Michael Moore of Arlington, Virginia. Hammond was born in Elberton, Georgia on March 31, 1919, the youngest of four sons and a daughter. His father, a carpenter, a strong, hardworking, simple man of integrity and a devoted husband, was his hero. He spent his childhood in Elberton and West Palm Beach. In Elberton, he followed his father walking out the back door for miles, hunting and fishing, and returning with food for his large family and cousins or friends who might visit. He regularly sang hit songs while his aunt played the piano on a local radio station. In West Palm Beach, his father supervised construction and they fished. A favorite memory was how he was pulling a plug with a hand line from a boat during a storm and caught what might have been a record trout. He loved to play baseball and he was exceptional at it. His older brother Austin pitched in the major leagues. He graduated from Elberton High School. Hammond and his three brothers served in World War II. He served as a forward observer for artillery in the Battle of the Bulge saving American lives from advancing German tanks. He received three campaign ribbons for Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. After the war, Hammond worked at the Savannah River Nuclear Plant for 32 years rising from patrol to administrator level. He valued every person and took stands for people based on their ability and dedication against some managers who discriminated. He was hard working, brilliant without much formal education, good humored, diligent, and he cared intensely about doing the right thing regardless of any consideration for his own self interest. Many co-workers appreciated him. Some top managers cherished him, pleaded with him not to retire, and for years afterwards called him for advice. He loved to hunt and fish. He trained bird dogs for years and for many years afterwards he hunted without a dog walking through fields and woods in rural South Carolina and Georgia. He would share what he killed or caught with the families who lived there. When he first arrived, he would always bring them something, a gift of food and drink, and spend some time saying hello. He respected everyone no matter what their station in life and he cared about them and for their families and future and he acted upon that almost as if they were family. He appreciated people for who they are. He was a terrific shot. His personal standard was a low number of shots and an equal number of ducks, quail, doves, or rabbits. He acted on his beliefs in a caring stewardship for animals and the land. Some of his closest friends were American Indian and they considered him as one of their own. He was skilled as a fisherman in freshwater or saltwater. He would spend many hours at home designing, experimenting, creating, and producing hundreds of fishing lures. He would say that the fish could tell you which store you bought the lure at. The fish were at a disadvantage. He loved his family. He would say there’s nothing more important than family. He spent time with his wife and children. He was proud of his daughter’s spirit, her gift in art, and her love of animals. He would often say she could train animals to talk. He took his son hunting and fishing nearly every weekend no matter that he was working two shifts. He would say it’s peaceful just being there. During the drive home, he would sing Mills Brothers and other songs from the forties and fifties. He took the same passion to his home where he and his wife fed the birds so much that coveys of quail would make frequent pilgrimages through the back yard. He put out bird feed in the ponds and all across the Palmetto Golf Course where he was a member. Ducks came, other birds came. Once he and his wife hit their drives over the pond on the 12th. As they were getting out of the cart to hit their second shots, two ducks came waddling toward them to proudly show their new baby ducks following them in a line. He put up birdhouses for blue birds and they started coming. Many from the club regularly thanked him. They would look forward to seeing him walking along the golf course nearly every evening. In accordance with Hammond’s wishes, no services will be held. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution may make it to the charity of one’s choice. SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE, AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Hammond Mathew Moore, please visit our flower store.