Donald Leigh Moore, Jr.

Shepherdstown’s most beloved — and most infuriating — Marine passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 after a long combat with illness.

Donald Leigh Moore, Jr. was born in Newton, MA. on October 29, 1946, into a deeply rooted military family. His grandfather served in the Spanish-American War. His father, Navy Commander Donald Leigh Moore, Sr., served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. His mother, Elizabeth Glasson Moore, was a widow volunteer at the officer’s club.

As a Navy brat, Don spent his early years in Hawaii, Cleveland, OH, and Alexandria, VA. Drafted in 1967, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Marine 2nd Lieutenant. In June 1969, he was deployed to Vietnam, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (Kilo Company), serving under Oliver North. That October, he was transferred to the 12th Marines Artillery. He served with distinction but returned home in 1971 in a body cast — somewhat the worse for wear.

After recovering, Don completed his education and embarked on a life of public service: first as a Fairfax County firefighter, then a deputy sheriff in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, and eventually as a U.S. Marshal. Later, he moved north and worked in various roles, including a stint as Vocation Manager at the Job Corps in Harpers Ferry, WV.

He was a constant presence at local music sessions, especially at O’Hurley’s General Store, where he would set up a defensible perimeter of banjos, guitars, an autoharp, and a bodhran — his own musical fire squad. His fierce love of music and instruments was matched by a passion for sound gear, traffic cones, and barrier tape. For decades, he and his equipment provided invaluable sound reinforcement for concerts and workshops across the region.

Don prepared for emergencies with the zeal of a Marine: his stash of flashlights and Spam was legendary. He was always ready to go above and beyond to help his community, rescue a friend — or save a cat — especially if he could grumble about it later like a true soldier. He didn’t suffer fools gladly, including the one he sometimes saw in the mirror. He could be deeply thoughtful–when not behind the wheel of a car.

He loved roses, perhaps because they have thorns, often look battered, and tend to get out of hand. Despite Agent Orange and other hardships, Don often bloomed where he planted himself — and surely earned a place among us as a most memorable weed. With special care (and plenty of grumbling), he outlived all expectations. But now, we’re desolated that he’s finally been pulled up. We hope — really hope — that the Gardener likes autoharp.

Don was married three times, all ending in divorce. He was predeceased by his father, Donald Moore, mother, Elizabeth Moore, and brother, John Moore. He is survived by his sister, Vicki Nielson; his daughters Heather Royster (Hap) of Virginia Beach, VA, and Melissa Spiker (Scott) of Alta Vista, KS; grandsons Jonathan Higgins, Henry Royster, and Bradford Spiker; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial celebration of his life (please, no mandolin-banjos) will be held at 6 p.m. on June 26 at O’Hurley’s General Store in Shepherdstown, WV.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hungry for Music, 24065 Senedo Road, Woodstock, VA 22664 — a program that offers musical instruments to under-resourced children.