Holly Springs Funeral Home

George M Moore Jr
George “Mack” Moore left to dwell with our Lord and Savior on July 30, 2023. His life, compassion and service in the face of adversity will be his living legacy along with his wife Luann, their son Dalen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and two grandchildren, Westin and Webber and his brother Tom of Bartlett, Tennessee. Mack never met a challenge he couldn’t overcome and he is an inspiration to all who had the privilege to know him. Mack entered this life on February 5, 1944 born to George and Francis Moore in Oxford, Mississippi, where he spent his early life hunting, fishing, attending church and playing high school sports. While he enjoyed farm life, the skies called to him, his first word as a child was “airplane”, and he joined the Air Force to serve his country as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War after graduating from Ole Miss in 1966. Mack served two tours in Vietnam and in 1970 was returning from a night mission when his plane struck an obstacle while landing, crashed, and burst into flames. He was burned over 70 percent of his body and his injuries resulted in him living the rest of his life as a triple amputee. He could have retired from life and let the physical challenges overwhelm him, but he showed tenacity and drive through 49 operations in the next 43 months. He returned to school to earn his second degree in business from Arizona State University in 1976 and subsequently graduated summa cum laude from Carnegie Mellon with his MBA in 1984. Mack joined the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in 1981 to serve his comrades in arms. His military experience, injury, compassion and drive to serve were key components in his rise through the VA system. He focused on helping all the people he could and in 1986 Mack was recognized as its Outstanding Disabled Employee of the Year and this was followed by President Ronald Reagan selecting Mack as the Outstanding Federal Handicapped Employee of the Year in 1987. These awards were the first in a long line of recognition for outstanding performance and service to others both professionally and personally. On the personal front, Mack won the Streamline and Buckmaster Handicapped Hunter of the Year awards and he was selected to carry the Olympic torch for the Los Angeles and Salt Lake City Olympics. In 2005, Mack was selected to serve as the Director of the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport Louisiana. His keen sense of patient needs coupled with a high sensitivity to veteran satisfaction led to more recognition as the eighth person to ever receive The Disabled Veteran’s LIFE Award. He retired from the VA system after 30 years of service in 2010. He met and married Luann Graber in 1974 for time and they were later sealed for eternity in a temple ceremony in 1976. Throughout his life Luann proved to be the support he needed to meet the challenges of life. Their life together was spent in loving those around them, helping where they could and serving the Lord in their daily activities. One of the happiest times of Mack’s life was when he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the Hill Cumorah Pageant in 2014. Mack continued to serve and help others in his retirement. He was instrumental in coordinating and funding the construction of a church on his property for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and led the men in his local church in organizing service opportunities, personal growth and fellowship. Mack will always be remembered for saying, “A winner is just a loser who tried one more time” and truly living this motto in his amazing life. He will be missed by all who knew him, but we all know he is now “running” with a better crowd. The viewing services will be held at the Holly Springs Funeral Home at 1160 Hwy 311, Holly Springs, Mississippi, on August 4, from 5 to 8 pm. Funeral services will be at 643 Bishop Road, Holly Springs, Mississippi on August 5, at 11am, with a short viewing prior, beginning at 10 am. There will be a graveside service to follow at the Red Banks Cemetery. There will be a reception at Red Banks Baptist Church, North Red Banks Road, Red Banks, Mississippi after the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mack’s favorite charity, Tunnel to Towers at T2T.org

Please leave your condolences for the family below in the guest book by filling out the form below. Your message will be published after review.


Name: Message:

Name: David Presley Date: 8/3/2023 11:30:50 PM Message: Mack along with many other great people grew up in Oxford. I was fortunate enough to be in that number!! He was a paradigm of strength and determination to more people than will ever be truly known!! He is missed, for sure. Rest in peace, man!!

Name: Chris Thornton Date: 8/4/2023 12:58:01 AM Message: Mack made an indelible impression on me as a young boy. There are not a lot of crisp memories from that time in my life, but the day he came to our home for a visit was one of them. Here was a man who had lost so much, and yet had so much more than most. He was focused on and using what he had, and his sense of humor was bigger than any room, cracking joke after joke, performing daring wheelies in his electric wheelchair…as a young boy, his captivating presence had me mesmerized. He caused me to think about serious things as a young kid…and his presence as a topic on so many dinner table conversations made it feel like he was family…. One such conversation went something like this: “Would you believe Mack is hunting now!? He has gotten himself a special rig in a six wheeler swamp buggy, and the controls are customized so he can drive it. He has a big pistol specially fitted to seat onto his amputation on one arm and he has a cord that he can pull with his other hand. He’s incredibly accurate with it because he says it’s just like he’s pointing his finger at what he shoots.” That indomitable attitude and his remarkable accomplishments challenged me as an inspiration throughout the next 50-ish years of my life, as the knowledge of Mack’s story was the perfect inoculation for any self pity that I might otherwise have entertained. I only saw Mack a few times “in person”, as he was usually busy wringing every drop out of life, adding chapters to his epic story of life beyond limitations…but his impact has been substantial. I love the legend of Mack Moore. His stories of humor, willful strength, and love of life will live with me all my days.

Name: Kim Lane Date: 8/4/2023 1:20:28 AM Message: So sorry for your loss! George was an inspiration, a breath of fresh air, and hilarious! I will never forget him. I smile as I think of him running above me. I am a better person for having the honor to know him. Peace be with you today and always.

Name: Bill Tucker Date: 8/4/2023 2:48:35 AM Message: Remember Mack and family well when we were going up in Oxford! He certainly accomplished many great things in his life

Name: Ivon & Ann Faulkner Date: 8/4/2023 6:13:36 PM Message: We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family at this difficult time. Please remember that we love you so much and pray for your peace and comfort for the coming days.

Name: Mary Murphy Date: 8/4/2023 8:22:14 PM Message: I have lost a great friend. Louann, my heart is full of sorrow for you.

Name: Caroline Chartier Date: 8/9/2023 5:37:12 AM Message: Mr. Moore was an excellent medical center director. His goal and passion of caring for Veterans, like himself, ran deep in his daily work. His past physical injuries did not hinder his activities. He was know for being an outdoorsman. My daughter and I attended a VA Employee night at a Captain's baseball game with Mr. and Mrs. Moore. Mr. Moore demonstrated his strong and accurate skills in throwing the first pitch. Knowing Mr. Moore was an honor.

Name: MaryAnn Kaylor Date: 8/15/2023 11:03:38 AM Message: Mr. Moore was a great leader and an inspiration to all who knew him.

Name: George and Diane Carey Date: 8/18/2023 7:48:03 PM Message: George and I were very sadden by the passing of my cousin Mack . He was the very definition of a hero through his life. He will be sadly missed . Heaven is a better place now that Mack has brought his great smile and hearty laugh. Rest in peace .

Name: Bonnie B Hearn Date: 8/29/2023 12:42:23 AM Message: I worked with Mr. Moore at the VA Southern Region in Jackson, MS. He was such an inspiration to me and a great person indeed. He knew my husband as well and we both learned to love him because to truly know him was to love him.

Name: Gary and Sharon Fox Date: 1/29/2024 8:41:45 PM Message: Louann, Gary and I are saddened learning of Mack's departure. We saw this information just last night and wanted to tell you that Mack provided many powerful memories and tales that Gary has spoken of from their roommate status in VN. Mack will always remain an inspiration as we remember him. We wish you comfort and love.

Name: Gary and Sharon Fox Date: 1/29/2024 8:41:56 PM Message: Louann, Gary and I are saddened learning of Mack's departure. We saw this information just last night and wanted to tell you that Mack provided many powerful memories and tales that Gary has spoken of from their roommate status in VN. Mack will always remain an inspiration as we remember him. We wish you comfort and love.