Moir turned his passion for heavy equipment, especially trucks, into a successful sales career as a distributor for General Motors diesel engines as well as Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks.
The Hilo native and Punahou graduate, founder of Moir Industries and Mid-Pacific Industries, died of a heart attack April 2 in Guam. He was 63.
"His conversation and stories is what I'll miss the most," said Betty Scott Moir, referring to her husband.
The Moirs would have celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary in September.
Moir stayed on as vice president and general sales manager of Moir Industries when it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Honolulu Iron Works in 1963.
Later that year, he accepted an assignment to establish and head a Peterbilt division of the company in the Philippines. He stayed for seven years and built factories and roads from scratch for three sugar centrals in Batangas (Luzon), Passi (Panoy) and Tulong (Bacolod).
Most of the 400 people he helped train for upper-level positions went on to become managers, his wife says.
"What he did in the Philippines has to be one of his greatest accomplishments," Betty Moir added. "It was quite a challenge."
In 1965, Moir became a pilot.
"He didn't like to fly at first," Mrs. Moir recalled, "but learned how to do it for business purposes. Once he began flying, he loved doing it."
Moir founded Mid-Pacific Industries after returning to Eugene, Ore., where he lived from 1970-77.
He expanded his business to include Mid-Pac Mironesia, based in Saipan, and Mid-Pac Far East in Guam, and became a distributor for Ottawa Yard Tractor port equipment.
Moir sold his business interests two years ago and retired. He and his wife split their time between Guam, Hawaii and California.
Some longtime Hawaii residents may remember Moir as a sportscaster of Hilo High basketball games or as the stock car racing announcer at the old Honolulu Stadium in the late Fifties.
Moir is survived by his wife; sons James Jr. and John; daughter Heather; and mother-in-law Esther DeHart.
Memorial service at 10 a.m. April 12, Central Union Church.
Earl J. Andrade of Kaneohe, a Hawaiian Telephone Co. retiree, died April 6 in Castle Hospital. Andrade, 63, a Korean War veteran, was born in Hilo. He is survived by wife Edna; mother Irene L. Tavares; sons Earl J. and Edward K.; daughter Ewalani J. Clemente; brothers Alexander Andrade and Wesley Tavares; sisters Winona Stone, Wonder Tavares, Lorraine Veincent and JoAnn Loa; and eight grandchildren. Mass: noon April 12 at Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. Call from 9 to 11 a.m. April 12 at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Aloha attire.
John A. Baysa of Hilo, a retired self-employed carpenter, died April 2 in Hilo Hospital. Baysa, 95, born in the Philippines, is survived by wife Mary A.; sons John Jr., Maurice, Benjamin and Merney Baysa, and Ernest, Nemecio and Daniel Abaya; daughters Marcella B. Varner, Joyce B. Kelekolio, Marlyn B. Soalodaop, Dixie Kingsolver, Elisa Louia and Mary Abaya; 53 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Service: 10 a.m. April 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kilauea Ave. Call from 5 to 8 p.m. April 12 at Dodo Mortuary and after 8:30 a.m. April 13 at the church. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.
Juan B. Begonia of Omao, Kauai, a retired McBryde Sugar Co. crane operator, died April 5 in Wilcox Hospital. Begonia, 83, was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Fely; sons John and Reuben; daughters Barbara Rogelstad, Stella Begonia and Colleen Ariola; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Mass: 10 a.m. April 12 at St. Raphael's Catholic Church. Call after 8 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.
Eluwene H. Betts of Kahului died April 7 in Maui Memorial Hospital. Betts, 76, was born in Lahaina. She is survived by daughters Ellen I. Lonzaga and Cleo K. Oliver; son Arthur C. III; and sister Henrietta Visser. Private services.
Yvette C. Cantiberos of Honolulu died last April 3 in the Leeward Nursing Home. Cantiberos, 30, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by children Genesis Houghtailing-Cantiberos, and Zachary and Aaron Cantiberos; mother and stepfather Eveline P. "Evy" and Elias Torres Jr.; father Samuel C. Cantiberos Jr.; sister Jermaine L. "Akiona"; and grandparents Josephine "Darling" Abing, and Paul and Dolly Hayes. Service: 7 p.m. April 12 at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Casual/aloha attire.
Paul T. Chun of Honolulu, a retired material damage appraiser, died March 27 in Queen's Hospital. Chun, 83, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Eloise; son Scott P.; daughters Robyn and Laurel; sister Esther Henson; and four grandchildren. Memorial service: 9 a.m. April 13 at Waiokeola Congregational Church. Casual attire. No flowers.
George R. Cooke Jr. of Kailua, a retired salesman, died April 1 in the Pohai Nani Care Center. Cooke, 79, was born in Illinois. He is survived by wife Bernice Just; son George R. III; and three grandchildren. No services.
Kiyono Doi of Hanapepe, Kauai, died April 8 in Kauai Care Center. Doi, 92, was born in Hanapepe, Kauai. She is survived by sons Herbert, Richard, Mansfield and Charles; daughter Helen Honnaka; sisters Clara Suzui, Shinayo Tamai and Sueko Furuta; brother Richard Sasaki; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Service: 4 p.m. April 12 at Hanapepe Hongwanji Mission. No flowers.
Esther R. Egdamin of Pearl City died March 28 in Kaiser Hospital. Egdamin, 59, was born in Pahoa, Hawaii. She is survived by son Albert M.; daughters Veronica L. Egdamin, Sandra A. Perez, Susan E. Lopes and Michele F. Verece; brothers Vicente, Liborio and Benjamin Ramelb; sister Phyllis Constantino; and nine grandchildren. Mass: 11:15 a.m. April 12 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 1525 Waimano Home Road. Call after 9:15 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Pauline C. Gladding of Honolulu, a secretary for the Honolulu Symphony, died March 26 in Queen's Hospital. Gladding, 76, was born in Maine. She is survived by sister Margie O'Connor; and stepdaughter Mary Bacon. Service: 2 p.m. April 14 at the Aquarian Foundation, 2440 Kuhio Ave., lobby level.
Paul G. Gomes of Honolulu, a retired Pearl Harbor Shop 31 machinist, died April 6 at home. Gomes, 85, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by companion Marian "Girlie" Hunt; son Paul G. Jr.; daughters Bernadette A. Gomes and Paulette M. Haisen; stepsons Rupert S. and Gregory B. Hung; stepdaughter Debbie J. Iseri; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. April 12 at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Samuel K. Gorai of Kaneohe, a retired Air Engineering refrigerator/air conditioner mechanic, died April 5 in Castle Hospital. Gorai, 66, born in Honolulu, is survived by wife Lovey; sons Douglas and Daniel; daughter Lovena Davis; brothers Clinton and Arthur; sisters Margaret Leong and Beatrice Soga; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Service: 9:30 a.m. April 12 at Waikalua Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Casual attire.
Frank Gouveia Jr., formerly of Waipahu, died April 5. Gouveia, 64, was born in Waipahu. He is survived by daughter Francine G. Swehla; son John M.; sisters Violet Ferreira, Katherine Costa, Lillian Perreira and Sylvia Clements; brother Walter; and two grandchildren. Services on the mainland.
James Y. "Richard" Higuchi of Wailuku died April 6 in Maui Memorial Hospital. Higuchi, 75, was born in Wailuku. He is survived by sisters Jane Adachi, Nora Santos, Mitzie Loio and Nancy Kealoha. Service over his ashes: 5 p.m. April 12 at Nakamura Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Juanito D. Jaramilla of Kaumakani, Kauai, a sugar cane plantation worker, died March 26 in Queen's Hospital. Jaramilla, 86, was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Florafina; sons Ferdinand, John, Lyndon and Roswell; daughter Leilani; and sister Bernarda. Mass: 7 p.m. April 13 at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Service: 11:45 a.m. April 14 at St. Joseph's Chapel in Kaumakani, Kauai. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hanapepe Filipino Cemetery. Casual attire.
Matsutaro "Makule" Jitchaku of Kurtistown, Hawaii, a retired Hawaii County mechanic, died April 8 in the Life Care Center of Hilo. Jitchaku, 86, was born in Mountain View, Hawaii. He is survived by mother Tsuru; sons Royden and Melvin; daughters Miriam Rodero and Momi Cazimero; sisters Kameko Harakuni, Shizue Takara, Cynthia Olsen, Irene Takahama, Yoshiko Miyashiro and Shirley Young; 18 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. April 12 at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home-Hilo. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mauna Kea Cemetery. Casual attire.
Richard M. LaGory of Ewa Beach, a retired U.S. Navy chief warrant officer and federal civil service foreman, died April 1 at home. LaGory, 78, was born in Cincinnati. He is survived by brothers Stanley and Frank; sisters Evelyn and Clara; daughter Carmen S.L. Earle; sons Richard C. and Michael; and a grandson. Private services.
Sarah K.S. Lee of Honolulu, a retired Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard supply clerk, died March 31 in Honolulu. Lee, 82, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughter Ernella Kam and sister Florence Young. Service: 12:15 p.m. April 13 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 10:15 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Tao Ly of Honolulu died April 5 in Pearl City Nursing Home. Ly, 71, was born in Vietnam. He is survived by wife Ha; son Thanh N.; daughters Sanh Dunning and Lynn Kuzuma; several sisters; and seven grandchildren. Buddhist services: 9 to 11:30 a.m. April 13 at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Sunset Cemetery.
June E. McCowin of Pearl City died March 30 in Wuerzburg, Germany. McCowin, 74, was born in Thornton, Iowa. She is survived by sisters Maxine Cusick and Nola Affinito; brothers Veryl and Richard Kallestad; daughters Michele Aiwohi and Candace Francis; stepchildren Adele Islava, Bobbe Teves and Bill McCowin; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren. Service: 2 p.m. April 13 at Kaimuki Christian Church. No flowers. Donations may be made to KAIM Radio.
Juanita Y. Mills of Nogales, Ariz., formerly of Hawaii, died April 1 in Arizona. Mills, 93, was born in North Kohala, Hawaii. She is survived by daughters Odetta Price, Gladys Chock, Agnes Yap and Norah Williams; sons George, Tandy, Earl and Robert Newcomb, and John Mills; sister Martina Hanson; and brothers Antonio, Melsey, Benjamin and Alex Yrizarry. Services to be held later.
Chika N. Miyazono of Honolulu, a retired cannery packer, died April 1 in the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Miyazono, 101, born in Fukuoka, Japan, is survived by sons Larry K. and Elliott S.; daughters Mildred K. and Jeannette T. Miyazono, Fujie Koizumi, and Georgina M. Katase; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Private services.
Frank C. Roberts of Honolulu, owner and operator of a marine surveyor company, died March 30 at home. Roberts, 74, born in Connecticut, is survived by wife Ieko E.; daughter Pamela Pezzuti; son Paul; sisters Jean Chilson and Zoe Alferes; and three grandchildren. Private services.
Catalino N. Sagucio of Kaumakani, Kauai, a retired Olokele Sugar Co. harvester, died March 29 in Kauai Veterans Hospital. Sagucio, 90, was born in Lanao Bangui, the Philippines. He is survived by wife Filomena; sons Apolinario and Peter; daughters Inocencia Villasista, Sylvia Salumbides and Connie Sagucio; brother Juan; sister Lucena Fernandez; and 11 grandchildren. Rosary: 7 p.m. April 12 at St. Joseph Church in Kaumakani, Kauai. Call after 6:30 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. April 13 at the church. Preceded by another Rosary at 9:30 a.m. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hanapepe Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Lawrence Santos of Haleiwa, a retired Hickam Air Force Base auxiliary round equipment foreman, died March 27 in Wahiawa General Hospital. Santos, 75, a U.S. Army World War II veteran, was born in Makawao, Maui. He is survived by wife Bernice R.; son William A.; brothers John, Louis, Lionel and Harold Manda; sisters Dorothy and Cecelia Santos, and Roseline Ferreira; and two grandchildren. Memorial service: 11 a.m. April 13 at St. Michael's Church, 67-390 Goodale Ave. Call after 9 a.m. Inurnment will be held later. Casual attire. No flowers.
Salvador C. Seno of Honolulu died April 2 in St. Francis Hospital. Seno, 82, was born in Kohala, Hawaii. He is survived by sons Salvador Jr., Ronald and Clifford; daughters Lorraine Young, Maxine J. Aki, Mary J. Johnson, Denise L. Hargrove, Luci K. Andrade, and Linda, April and Crystal Seno; sisters Rosaria Conlan and Frances Simon; 25 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. Service: 11:45 a.m. April 13 at Valley of the Temples. Call after 11:30 a.m. Inurnment to follow.
James T. Toyooka of Honolulu died April 5 in Honolulu. Toyooka, 89, was born in Puunene, Maui. He is survived by sons Richard, George "Joe," Morris, Harry and James; daughters Doris Johnson and Ethel Kaiura; 18 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Private services.
John R. "Jack" Webster of Haleiwa, a retired Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard warehouseman, died April 4 in Queen's Hospital. Webster, 70, was born in Scotland. He is survived by wife Betty; sons Jack, Barry, George and Duane; sister Barbara Eades; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Private services. Ashes to be scattered.
Rae Witt, also known as Aurelia Angel Witt, died March 9 in Honolulu. Witt, 86, was born in Louisiana. She is survived by sister Rose M. Bonitta. Graveside services held.
Katsuji "Kako" Yamaguchi of Wahiawa died March 19 in Hale Pulama Mau. Yamaguchi, 83, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Dennis M. and Roy K.; daughter Sharon H. Motoda; brothers Haruji, Melvin T. and James T.; sisters Margaret T., Shige, Tomi and Cleo M. Yamaguchi, and Chiyo Keahi; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Private services.
Takao Yoshioka of Honolulu, a retired machinist, died last April 3 in St. Francis Hospice. Yoshioka, 91, was born in Kekaha, Kauai. He is survived by wife Kikuno; son Richard T.; brother Yutaka; and three grandchildren. Private services.
Wing Kam Young of Honolulu died March 30 in St. Francis Hospital. Young, 77, was born in China. He is survived by wife Soo Chun; sons Henry S.Y., Kai Ming and Peter D.M.; daughter Lena N.L.; and three grandchildren. Taoist service: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 14 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Burial: Manoa Cemetery.