My first mentor has passed

Sevens

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Clifford David Moore
May 5, 1935 -- October 28, 2023


He most recently lived in Swartz Creek, MI but for many years lived just outside of Holly, MI. He was a friend of our family and the first to teach me how to shoot a firearm. My Mom asked him to help not at all long after my Dad had passed away.

It was Mr. Moore's Ruger Single Six .22LR that was the first handgun I ever shot, and it was his Ruger Security Six that was the first center fire handgun I ever shot, and to this day I credit that experience with absolutely lighting a fire inside of me with this life long love of guns and shooting.

He was also a kitchen table FFL back in this day and four of my first guns (I still have them) all came through him. I think he had a good chuckle when I asked to interview him and use him as a source for an 11th Grade English paper on the subject of the Colt Delta Elite, of which he was an early adopter. (I pulled an "A" on that paper.)

I have very strong regrets today as I just learned of his passing -- I never made the opportunity to reconnect with him and make sure he knew how instrumental he was in my pursuit of this hobby/lifestyle.

I genuinely wonder if any of you gents, especially those in and around lower Michigan knew Cliff Moore. He was an avid hunter, handloader and shooter certainly through the 1980's and after, likely before, but that's when I knew him.

It was just happenstance -- or maybe not, but I took a break to post this while I'm turning out .357 Magnum at my load bench. Just got the text from my brother of his passing while I was pulling a press handle.

https://www.sharpfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/clifford-moore

I certainly am curious if any of our members older than me and from Michigan knew Cliff Moore.

Thank you, Mr. Moore, for getting me started right!
 
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Very sorry for your loss- I too have a mentor who has been like a father to me (owned LGS growing up, learned much of what I know about guns and shooting from him). He lives out of state now but we keep in touch and I’ll make a trip to see him about every year and a half or so. Will be a sad day for me when he goes.
 
I wish I had a mentor during my earlier life. My father was a good man but always too busy to do much of that and my one grandfather wasn't interested. I had to be my own. Even during my adult life I never had anyone who really filled that role very well. I did have one boss who would have been a very good one but he died fairly early in our relationship. I have always believed that success is much easier if there is someone around who is wiser than you and is willing to impart some of that wisdom.
 
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thank you for sharing. Mr. Moore sounds like a great man. I am glad you had such a great role model to get you started.

now after you get done handloading, go out and fire off a couple of cylinders in his memory!
 
Sorry for your loss. My dad was my mentor. I was lucky though I didn't know it at the time. Weekends were working at the farm, cutting firewood, repairing fence etc. Always got to do some shooting when the work was done. He encouraged my hunting as well. Lived long enough to deer hunt with my oldest son and build a wonderful bond. I lost him in February at 96. I know I was very lucky. He was 41 when I was born.
 
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