Vern Eldon Moore, 95, a resident of Hayden, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon Feb. 17, 2011, at North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital after a short and unexpected illness. Vern was born in Ainsworth, Neb., on Feb. 6, 1916, and spent most of his childhood and early adult years in Portland, Ore.

He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve at the age of 16, and spent the next 41 years serving his country. He was called to active duty during World War II and spent two years on the island of Espiritu Santo in the South Pacific. He again was called to active duty during the Korean War and was assigned to Adak, Alaska, for two years. He loved to tell the story of "Washing Machine Charlie," (Japanese aircraft) flying over Espiritu Santo on Saturday nights, dropping the occasional bomb and ruining the showing of the Saturday night movie he and his comrades were watching.

Vern Moore was the patriarch of Idaho broadcast journalism. The depression short-circuited his college plans, leading him to the Oregon Institute of Technology where he learned the technical side of radio. He began his broadcast career as an announcer at a Portland station and later was hired by Boise's KIDO. The veteran newsman saw many technical milestones during his career with KIDO such as the first network broadcasts in Idaho, the first use of tape recordings, the first FM station and the first successful television station in Idaho, now KTVB-Channel 7 in Boise.

While living in Boise he had strangers approach him to say they recognized him from the early evening KIDO television newscasts he anchored years ago. Many Idahoans first heard historic phrases via the radio and Vern Moore reporting Winston Churchill's "blood, sweat and tears," General Douglas MacArthur's "old soldiers never die," Franklin D. Roosevelt's "day that will live in infamy" and King Edward VII's "the woman I love." He announced former Governor Barzilla Clark's weekly armchair broadcasts to the people. One of the honors he cherished is the Bob Lorimer Award for best "Conservation Writer of the Year" in 1975.

Vern resigned as KIDO news director after 40 years in March 1976 to do public relations work for the Boise Redevelopment Agency. He served as past director and chairman of the Agribusiness Committee of the Boise Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Idaho Press Club, past secretary of the Capitol Correspondents Association and director of the Owyhee Motorcycle Club. He was vice president of the Idaho Press Club; a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters for 12 years; serving on the Music Week Board. Vern Moore earned the title of one of the most highly respected newsmen in Idaho. He had the ability to make that one additional phone call to make sure of his facts.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd and Lillie Louise Moore.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lorraine Moore, who was also very involved in the television and radio industry in the Boise area; his son, James Moore, who resides in the Boise area; daughter Maralee in California; two stepchildren, Jessica Shedd and son-in-law Richard Shedd of Coeur d'Alene, Susie Wallach and son-in-law Jeff Wallach of Beverly Hills, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Jordana Mansbacher, Marisa Lederman and Justin Burrow of Los Angeles, Calif.; as well as three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, with full Military Honors, burial followed at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens, Coeur d'Alene.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the caring nursing staff at both Kootenai Medical Center and North Idaho Advanced Care Hospital.

Please sign Vern's online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.