John Moore

From: Kurt Menking, April 2006

One of the owners of Honeycreek Cave died this weekend.  John Moore was a
son in law of the Gass’, and he and his wife Joyce were the primary caretakers
of the ranch property.  John was always plowing, bailing hay, and otherwise fixing
and repairing the many problems associated with the ranch.  All this was on top
of running a trucking business, and trying to keep up with a six year old son.

John was burning some brush at his home in Harper this Saturday when it suddenly
got out of control.  John, Joyce, and several neighbors franticly fought the fire until
the fire dept arrived and made short work of extinguishing the remaining flames.
Joyce went inside to clean up, and make some cool drinks for the volunteers, and
while she was gone John suffered a heart attack, and never regained consciousness.

John was 52, and was always interested in the cave.  I accompanied him on several
trips into Honeycreek cave including a QA trip and a through trip.  He was the only family
member to see any significant part of the cave.

Services will be at St Anthony’s Catholic church in Harper at 10am this Thursday.  Grave
side service will be around 2:30 at the St Josephs of Honey Creek Catholic Cemetery,
which is near the cave property.

The Gass’ health has actually been improving of late.  Johnny is largely wheel chair bound
and really misses his tractor, and Anita is getting around a little better.

Kurt