Jeff Moore, Sept. 14, 1937 - Aug. 31, 2023
Imperial Valley (CA) Press
Geoffrey (Jeff) Allan Moore was born in Los Angeles on September 14, 1937, to Dr. Clare and Evelyn Moore and grew up in Alhambra, Calif. He graduated from Alhambra High School in 1955, then went on to earn his college degree from University of California, Davis, graduating in 1960. After college graduation and serving in the Army and National Guard, a livestock supply salesman job brought him to El Centro in 1962. Jeff went on to manage a feedyard, followed by a position buying and selling cattle which then became his life’s career.
In 1965, he married Joanie Goss and they embarked on a happy life together, recently celebrating their 58th anniversary. Together, they had one child, Jennifer, of whom they were so very proud. He was just as happy when son-in-law, Frank Van Der Linden joined the family and of course, he loved and adored his grandchildren, Lexi and Luke. Jeff and Joanie were honored to become extended members of the Van Der Linden family.
Jeff and Joanie established their own livestock business, Moore Livestock Company, in 1972. Jeff was smart, ambitious and determined and their business thrived. They were a team in their business and daily lives and were very seldom apart.
Jeff loved to team rope and enjoyed many years roping in his arena with local cowboys. He was always willing to help young cowboys get their team roping start. Out-of-town friends knew they were always welcome to stay at their home and ranch on the way to or from a rodeo or roping. He always had a good herd of corriente roping steers and a great arena for practicing. Jeff, Joanie and Jennifer spent many years traveling to rodeos, team roping events and barrel races and he was always proud of their good horses.
Jeff enjoyed sharing his National Finals Rodeo tickets with friends and family every year since 1985 and that tradition continues today. In 2022, Jeff and Joanie did not attend the rodeo in person for the first time but enjoyed watching every performance on TV.
Jeff’s other hobbies throughout the years were golf, hunting, boats and cars. He enjoyed watching Chargers Football, San Diego Padres and golf matches on TV. He was known for having owned many cool pickups and various custom street rods including the loud and fast purple 1933 Ford hot rod which could be heard approaching from blocks away. Many of his younger friends thought he was the “coolest old guy around.”
He served on the California Mid-Winter Fair Board for 15 years, was a member of the Stockmen’s Club, Del Rio Country Club and Sunrunners Car Club. He was proud to be a Gold Card life member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He was a familiar face for many years at the California Mid-Winter Fair large animal weigh-ins.
He is survived by his wife, Joanie; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Frank Van Der Linden; grandchildren, Lexi and Luke Van Der Linden; sister Donna’s long-time companion, Henry Chavez; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and Channie Heimer; sister-in-law, Bonnie Slack; nephew, Mike Atkinson; and nieces, Jill Atkinson and Lisa French. And his beloved dog, Daisy Mae.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Donna Atkinson; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Johnnie and Virginia Goss.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Pioneers Memorial Hospital or the Humane Society of Imperial County.
The family wishes to thank Heart and Hand and Accent Care Hospice for their compassionate care; Jeff’s long-time doctor George Maloof MD; and Pioneers Memorial Hospital ED and Scripps ED staff for their care during the past few years.
A celebration of life was held on September 22 at the Stockmen’s Club in Brawley.