When Rear Admiral Sam Moore decided to retire from the U.S. Navy in 1977 after a successful 36-year career, he chose Marshall as his new home. He and his wife Charlene, came here and soon became immersed in the community.

Moore, 86, died Tuesday morning in Marshall. He was born to Myrtle Lee and Sam H. Moore in Rugby on April 11, 1918. Funeral services by Sullivan-Heaster Funeral Home will be at First United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. Thursday and visitation will be at the Travis Street Chapel today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Moore's years in the Navy started five months after the United States entered into World War II, and his assignments included the command of minesweepers, destroyers and guided missile cruisers. He also served during the Vietnam War, and ended his career in Washington D.C., at the Pentagon where he was director of the Navy's budget, deputy comptroller of the Navy and then commander of the Military Sealift Command.

He was awarded more than 30 awards including two Distinguished Service Medals, three Legions of Merit, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the National Order of Vietnam.

Before going into the Navy, Moore graduated from Paris Junior College and East Texas State University and was honored as a distinguished alumnus of both. He also attended the Diesel School at Cornell University, Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Va., Navy Post Graduate School at Monterrey, Calif., Army Guided Missile School at Ft. Bliss, Texas, Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Quantico, Va. and the National War College at Ft. Leslie McNair in Washington, D.C.

His friends in Marshall say he was a gentleman, community-minded and he always did a great job with anything he volunteered to do.

"He was just always the enthusiastic volunteer willing to go in there and help the community ... He wasn't one of those armchair-type quarterbacks. He got in there and did the work," said Sam Mosley, an attorney in Marshall who knew Moore through various civic work they did together.

Mosley said he couldn't think of just one thing Moore did that really stood out because Moore didn't just take on one major project. He was always there when the community needed him and helped fuel multiple projects that might have otherwise been ignored.

"He kept things moving instead of just letting them fade away," said Mosley.

Ray Lawson of Harrison County Glass Co. knew Moore because their paths crossed multiple times as they were in the same investment club, were both in the Marshall Rotary Club and were both members of First United Methodist Church.

"He was always a gentleman and considerate for others. We're going to miss him. Marshall's a better place since he came this way because he gave himself to the community," said Lawson.

Moore served on many boards, including the Harrison County Appraisal Board, Michelson Museum of Art, Marshall Regional Arts Council, Marshall Depot, Inc., Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce Board and Marshall Civic Center Advisory Board. He was also once president of the Marshall Rotary Club and the Citizen's Advisory Council.

"He was a fine gentleman and he was community-minded. He'd serve on any committee he could serve on, and when he did it, he'd do a good job," said Albert Abraham, noting Moore was always efficient and never overbearing when he headed a committee.

Abraham was also a veteran of World War II, having served as a fighter pilot for the Air Force. He joined Moore on various projects for Marshall's veterans, including the efforts of Marshall Economic Development Corporation to bring a veteran's home to the city.

"He was such a great help and hard worker for us trying to get a veteran's home here," said Lou Ann Nisbett of MEDCO.

She said Moore was always ready and willing to write letters, make speeches and was just an incredible worker for that cause.

"He had a can-do spirit. God's got a great friend in heaven," she said.

Moore also served as a member of the Marshall City Commission, the Civil Service Commission and East Texas Council of Governments. He was honored as Marshall's outstanding citizen in 1991 and was given a place on the wall of distinction on Marshall's Peter Whetstone Square.

Contact staff writer Hillary S. Meeks via e-mail at: hmeeks@coxnews.com; or by phone at (903) 927-5966.