David Lee Moore

David Lee Moore (Dave) of Kennewick, WA passed away on December 7, 2024, at the age of 82. He was born on August 15, 1942, in Jefferson City Missouri to Leland and Laura (Flanagan) Moore. The Moore family moved to Richland, WA in 1944 as part of the Manhattan Project workforce. David lived in Richland for most of his life until moving to Kennewick in 2022.

David attended Spaulding Grade School, Chief Joseph Middle School, and Columbia High School, graduating in 1960. He attended Columbia Basin College taking mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, drafting, algebra, trigonometry and calculus. He had the spirit of a daredevil with interests that included skydiving, hang gliding, rockets, space, and scuba diving, but the common sense of a scientist with a myriad of inventions being conceived at all times. He was never far from a paper tablet with his diagrams and plans for the next big thing.

In 1962 David met Barbara Gaines on a blind date. Barbara recalls “he had a good job, a ’57 Plymouth Fury, a cute tweed fedora, a suave trench coat and a spray bottle atomizer of Chantilly perfume for me; how could I resist?” They married in 1963 and at the time of his death they had been married for almost 62 years.

David worked for Washington Public Power Supply System for 27 ½ years. He started as the 16th person and youngest hired and retired as a licensed Control Room Operator. He was always very proud of his work in nuclear power and took his job very seriously.

Before his retirement David began a hobby business building fishponds and selling pond products. He started one of the first online catalogs for Koi Pond supplies and eventually grew his hobby into Koi Joy’s Pond Shop. During this time, he developed a low energy/high flow pond pump which sold all over the world. He advised hobbyists and professionals across the United States and locally at his Kennewick, WA store front. For 30 years he provided the community with quality products and expertise in a field that brought him much happiness.

David was a lifelong animal and bug lover with pets including multiple cats, dogs, tropical fish, birds and even a praying mantis.

David is survived by his wife, Barbara (Gaines) Moore, and their daughters Cindi Abbott and Kelly Bosman, daughter-in-law Marj Johnston and son-in-law Mike Bosman; granddaughters Jessy Combs and Bethany Hickey, and many great grandchildren; his brother Robert Moore, sister-in-law Judy Moore, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Leland and Laura (Flanagan) Moore and his brother, Tom Moore.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff who loved and cared for David at Windsong Memory Care and the amazing nurses (especially Shelly) at Chaplaincy Hospice Care who provided such kind guidance and compassion to him and the family at the end. There are not enough words to thank you all for your heartfelt thoughtfulness and support.

David lived his life to the fullest. He maintained a very witty sense of humor that lasted until his final days. He was a true gentleman, always, and we, his family, like to think that he is off on his next great adventure, with his memories intact and that sly sense of mischief we all came to love so much. He may have died of Alzheimer’s, but he lived in love. We will miss him very much.