George Franklin Moore

George Franklin Moore

October 26, 1951 – May 27, 2025

George Franklin Moore, age 73, of Butler, Oklahoma, was born on October 26, 1951, in Clinton, Oklahoma, to Ancil and Beatrice (Cruson) Moore. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Oklahoma City.

George was raised in Clinton and graduated from Clinton High School in 1969. On December 12, 1975, he married the love of his life, Judy Shelton, in Butler, Oklahoma. Together they built a beautiful life rooted in faith, family, and hard work.

Before joining the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, George ran Hatcher Farms for 20 years, where he farmed and ranched with great pride and dedication. He later became a valued employee of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, where he served as a Watershed Technician for 33 years. Remarkably, he was still actively working at the time of his passing. George was well-known among his colleagues as a skilled mentor to younger watershed employees. He was recognized nationally for his expertise and was considered among the top five in the country for Watershed Structure Operations & Maintenance procedures and practices. His co-workers often referred to him as “the video pipe inspection expert.”

George was a lifelong resident of southwest Oklahoma and a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Clinton.

He had a true passion for life. He loved raising show goats on his farm and found great joy in hunting, fishing, farming, and gardening. He was an avid gardener who took pride in growing and tending to his plants. However, his greatest love was his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he proudly followed everywhere for their activities. He was ornery in the best way—always quick with a joke, a story, or a laugh. He was the life of the party and could often be heard humming a tune wherever he went.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ancil and Beatrice Moore; his beloved wife, Judy Moore; nephew John Laymon Jr. ;one sister, Marsha Taylor; a niece, Julie Siess; and brothers-in-law, Larry Siess and James Shelton, along with James’s wife, Toni.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Josh Moore and wife Nichole of Arapaho; his daughter, Amber Sawatzky and husband Wayne of Butler; his sisters, Sue Siess of Duncan, Colleen Ogle of San Antonio, and Joleen Palmer of Kansas; four grandchildren, Austin Tyler Moore, Xavier Wayne Sawatzky, Natalie Paige Moore, and Zayne Edward Sawatzky; and his faithful four-legged companion, Izzy.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Clinton, with Bowman Vowell officiating. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery near Butler under the direction of Lee Hometown Funeral Home. The family will receive guests on Friday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home.

George will be remembered for his zest for life, unwavering love for his family, and his joyful, ever-present humming.

Memorial may be made to Butler Volunteer Fire Dept. at  P.O. Box 145 Butler, OK 73625