Merrill Moore of Pullman, Washington, celebrated his 109th birthday surrounded by family. Based on information gathered by relatives from various databases, he is likely the oldest man in the state and ranks 17th among the oldest men in the United States. During his lifetime, Moore has witnessed the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II and many major events that followed.
His strong work ethic took shape in childhood. Moore was the eldest of five brothers and grew up on a farm in Nebraska and later on the family poultry farm in Southern California. The family was poor, and the children often had to go barefoot. According to his daughter, Linda Kinslow, older boys of that era had to grow up quickly, and that sense of responsibility helped Moore succeed.
During the Great Depression, Moore began assembling aircraft at Lockheed, where he was valued as an employee and was once recognized with a letter of appreciation from the company’s president. During World War II, he served in Germany with the Army, working for the Red Cross, and witnessed the Nuremberg trials.
After returning home, Moore held many different jobs: He managed an animal-feed store, made furniture, worked at a sawmill and spent 17 years at a machine shop that supplied parts for aircraft. The small business eventually closed amid the relocation of production, increased competition and declining orders for aircraft components. Moore had to look for a new job and became a painter at Washington State University.
The university is Pullman’s largest employer and also serves as the city’s economic, educational and cultural center. Working there gave Moore stable employment in his hometown, allowing him to stay near his family rather than move elsewhere.
His son, Russell Moore, says his father was exceptionally responsible, creative and hardworking, sometimes working 80 to 90 hours a week. His wife, Barbara, died in 1993. Moore was also a skilled craftsman: He made wooden furniture himself and described the boys’ bedroom and the treehouse he built for his sons as his favorite projects.
Even in advanced age, Moore remains physically active and interested in life. He lives in a separate apartment in his daughter’s home, cheers for the university team and does knee-bending exercises. Pullman is a college town where sports are closely tied to local identity and community life, and Washington State University’s college football team is known as the Cougars. That is the team Moore supports.
On a treadmill, he estimates that he has walked about 10,000 miles. This year, however, was the first time he was no longer able to mow his daughter’s lawn by himself.
Relatives believe Moore’s kindness and willingness to help others may have contributed to his longevity. He drove a stranger home with her groceries after learning that she had no way to get there, cleared snow from neighbors’ sidewalks in winter and once volunteered to paint the inside of a church. At the celebration, a stack of greeting cards from numerous relatives sat beside the family, and his daughter summed him up simply: “We love him. He really is special.”
Based on: The oldest man in Washington celebrates his 109th birthday