Lee Fulton Moore

Lee Fulton Moore, a member of the American Institute of Architects, passed away of natural causes at 91 on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at the Rose Place Senior living facility, where he had been residing for the past four years. He was born on March 23, 1924 in Lexington, KY to Albertine and John V. Moore. After graduating from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Lee attended the University of Kentucky. World War II changed those plans and he enlisted a year later in the U.S. Army, Air Force division, where he served in the 314th Troop Carrier Squadron as a flight radar operator. He was one of the lucky ones to march down the Champs-Elysees at the liberation of Paris. After his honorable discharge, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil engineering from the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Lee then moved to Austin, TX to pursue a degree in Architecture, where he met his wife Marjorie and they were married on December 29, 1950. After graduating from the University of Texas, Marjorie convinced him to move to Port Arthur, her home town, and they spent fifty nine wonderful years together until her passing in 2010. During his time in Port Arthur, Lee started his own architectural firm, which became the partnership of Moore, Stansbury and Vaught in 1960. Lee brought a modern aesthetic to the many buildings he designed, ranging from residential to educational, commercial, municipal and religious works, such as the Memorial Baptist Church, and his proudest accomplishment, the Port Arthur City Hall, built in 1970. Besides his architectural work, Lee was involved in many civic activities and was a member of the Kiwanis Club and was elected President of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce in 1970. He was also a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist. After Lee retired, he consulted for Lamar State College Port Arthur as the campus building planner and oversaw a major construction expansion on campus, along with the redesign of the Museum of the Gulf Coast on Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur. Even though Lee was a successful businessman and architect, it was the way he lived his life that should be remembered most about him. He was a man of the upmost integrity, who treated everyone with respect, kindness and with a sense of humor. Lee is survived by his only daughter, Leanne Moore, his niece, Mary Kay Place and his nephews, Ken Place, Brad Place Jr. and Bo Moore. Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie and by his only brother, John Boyer Moore, who was also an architect in Lexington, KY. In lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions may be made to the Museum of the Gulf Coast. A celebration of the life of Lee Moore for all family and friends will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at The United Methodist Temple with a reception to follow. Lee will be greatly missed by all who knew him.