Community mourns Ernie Moore

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Hurley — Those who knew him continue to mourn the loss of Ernest “Ernie” Moore, who passed away last week.

Moore, 63, who died June 16 in Florida while traveling home, owned and operated the Iron County Miner and Print Shop in Hurley.

His role at the newspaper and his nature meant he knew many members of the community.

“All growing up, when we were driving around with him as kids or whatever; people would wave at him and say hi. He knew a lot of their names,” recalled his son, Michael Moore. “Sometimes, we’d say, ‘Who was that?’ and he’d say, ‘I don’t know.’ But most of the time, he knew who it was.”

Michael said the weekly newspaper — which Ernie took over from his father in 1992 — connected him to the community he grew up in and moved back to.

“He loved being involved and reporting on schools — especially I think he really liked the high school sports, I think he enjoyed going to those games.” Michael said. “But I think he enjoyed … (the) school board meetings or city meetings (even more).

“I think he liked being involved in the community and knowing what was going on, helping people be informed.”

Those Moore covered were just as positive about the mark he left on the community.

“I can’t say enough good about Ernie. Ernie was a wonderful, kind person,” said Joe Pinardi, Iron County Board Chairman and former Hurley mayor. “It breaks everyone’s heart, we’re all going to miss him dearly.”

“He never had a bad word to say about anybody,” Pinardi continued.

“He supported the community in anything; meaning he was a long-standing chamber member, the Miner was a long-standing supporter of the Paavo (Nurmi Marathon) as a sponsor, (he) helped numerous organizations and groups with flyers for fundraisers, printing tickets — everything,” said Rita Franzoi, the events coordinator for the Hurley Chamber of Commerce.

Along with his work at the Miner, Moore was active in the local Rotary club.

“He was probably one of the best (Rotarians) we had,” said Will Corcoran, the club’s treasurer. “He was just a prince of a guy. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

“He’s been on our board for many years … he handled our youth exchange program. I think he’s probably had every position you can have in Rotary,” said Corcoran, who knew Moore since Corcoran joined Rotary over 20 years ago. “Everybody has always looked to him for advice and guidance.

“He’s just been a great guy. I don’t know how else to put it.”

“He’s always been right there to bend over backwards for me,” Corcoran said, referring not only to Rotary but the other local causes Moore helped him with.

Although Moore played a large role in the area, he was not one to seek the spotlight — preferring instead to help out behind the scenes.

“He was a very kind, humble man. He would hate all of this (focus),” said Ricky Kelly, who worked with Moore at the Miner.

Active in his church, faith also played an important role in his life.

“He had the strongest faith of anybody I know,” Kelly said.

“You could tell he was a man of strong faith, and he carried himself honestly in his faith,” Franzoi told the Daily Globe.

Losing his wife, Carla, and daughter, Adeline, in a car crash in 1999; Moore is survived by seven children and 14 grandchildren.

A public visitation for Moore will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home in Ironwood.