Derry Moore

Derry Moore 1936-2021

Beloved husband, father, coach, educator, inspirational awardee and Sunday School teacher of more than fifty years, Derry Walton Moore, passed away in Roswell, New Mexico on September 22, 2021. He was a "man for all seasons" who always went the "extra mile".

Moore was born February 15, 1936 in Hodges, Texas, the 2nd of Edna and Leo Moore's "Lucky Seven". He graduated high school in O'Donnell, Texas, and went on to earn his bachelors and masters degrees from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM, where he met the love of his life, Kirby, during a square dancing class.

Moore was a long-time educator in the Pecos Valley having taught and coached for the Roswell Independent School District and Eastern New Mexico University. He served as athletic director for New Mexico Military Institute and Dexter Consolidated School District, as well as a dedicated sports official for the NMOA.

Derry, along with lifelong friend Duane Evans, helped established the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association. He created the gymnastics and wrestling programs at Roswell High School, as well as helped pioneer lifetime sports such as kayaking, backpacking and racquetball at NMMI. Each position he ever held ended the same—he was irreplaceable, because they could never find another Derry Moore.

Over his career, Derry received many honors and accolades for his work in athletics and education, including the RISD Outstanding Young Educator (1964), ENMU-R Most Outstanding Academic Instructor (1969), Regional Athletic Director of the Year (1978), Dexter’s Educator of the Year (2001), New Mexico High School Coaches Association Athletic Director of the Year (2003). He was inducted into the New Mexico Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Eastern New Mexico University Hall of Honors in 2011.

Moore is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kirby (Crocker) Moore, with whom he traveled forty-nine of the fifty states, his three children: Sherri Toles (Perry), Steve Moore and Jon Moore (Franny), and by his six grandchildren: Megan Adams (Rick), Cysco Moore (Carissa), Jadin Moore, Joshua Toles, Jordan Toles, Shelby Toles, and many more “adopted” grandchildren from his many years of coaching and teaching.

Moore is also survived by brother Buddy Moore (Sheri) and sisters Mary Shea and Sandra Monks, as well as the members of the infamous "Choir Practice" - his Thursday night poker group.

Among his passions were bird hunting, golfing, or "killing golfs" as he and his buddies called it, and devoutly attending all of his grandchildren’s sporting events. He loved Texas Tech football and was a strong advocate of the New Mexico Activities Association.

Derry was a true servant to his family, friends and community and lived a life embodying Christ's command, "love others the way I loved you." The lives he touched were numerous and his memories will be cherished by all.

A memorial service is scheduled at Roswell’s First Baptist Church on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 11am.