Jay V. Moore

JAY VREELAND MOORE February 8, 2025 100 years old

Born March 7, 1924 in Trenton NJ to Edith Hibbs Moore and Marcus John Sedgwick Moore, his birth certificate read “J. Vreeland Moore”. The family always called him Brud. When he started school the teachers addressed him as Vreeland and he didn’t know who they were talking to. He finally became Jay when the Motor Vehicle Department required a first name before issuing a driver’s license. 

Jay grew up with an alligator that he called his best friend. At one time or another, other animals at the Moore residence were snakes, a snapping turtle, a monkey and a parrot named Lorita that repeated “Lorita wants to go to bed” until its cage was covered.

The Navy claimed him after he graduated Trenton High in 1943 and he served until the end of World War II as radio operator in landing craft American Legion APA17 and Seaplane Tender AV14. 

Jay graduated Trenton Junior College in 1949 majoring in design and spent most of his career in charge of color labs and styling departments in the plastic industry.

In 1984 he earned his license to operate passenger vessels of not more than 100 gross tons to become Captain of the Cumberland Princess.

Jay was widowed twice from happy marriages to Margey Feurerbach in 1974 and Ann Marlin Ragsdale in 2008.

A ballroom dancer from his twenties into his nineties, Jay met Sheila Lehrke on the dance floor. A good match there led to their happily growing older, and older, together.

Jay’s two older sisters, Marcella Welch and Parthenia Carabelli preceded him in death. He is survived by beloved son Marcus (Joanne) Moore, Thorton CO; nephew Bruce (Paulette) Carabelli, Naples FL; niece Marcella D. Carabelli (Thomas E. Vagasy), Pompano Beach FL; grandchildren Johnny Moore, Julianna Moore and Jessica Cook; step-children Lisa Cook and Dwight Ragsdale; extended family; and loving companion Sheila Lehrke. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. on February 22 with visitation starting at noon and burial at 3 p.m.