Connie Clarke Moore

Connie Clarke Moore was born on July 29, 1939, to Clarke Scudder Moore and Eva Lucille Rider Moore. He was preceded in death by his parents. A Cherokee citizen and proud of his Indian heritage he was the fourth generation to own and operate the Moore Ranch in Rural Nowata County. The ranch was established in 1894 by his great grandfather John Boyd Moore.

Moore was a 1957 graduate of Nowata High School. Served in the Army for 3 years. Completing basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado. After basic training he went to Wheel and track school at Fort Knox, Kentucky. For fifteen weeks he trained to become a track vehicle mechanic, MOS 632.20. From there he was sent to serve in the 2nd Armored Calvary in Bamberg Germany. While in the 2nd armored Calvary he was awarded the Sharpshooter Badge with Pistol Bar and the Marksman Badge with Carbine Bar. After an honorable discharge he received a Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal.

After serving his country he came home to run the ranch that had been in his family since 1894. Serving the Beef Industry for 131 Years. The Moore Ranch in Nowata Oklahoma is the oldest, privately owned ranch of any size in the Cherokee Nation. The Moore Ranch was awarded the Oklahoma Centennial Farm and Ranch award in 1999. In 2011 the ranch was inducted into the National Registry of Historic Places. He loved the beautiful bluestem prairies of Oklahoma where he raised cattle for many years.

Having both a cow-calf and stocker-feeder operation for many years. In his later years, he was a Wild Horse Contractor for the BLM (Bureau of Land Management).

Through his years of operating a successful ranch, his mechanical abilities led him to his love of the automobile. He often joked, "He wanted horsepower, not horses". He won two of drag racing biggest events with a '64 Ford Fairlane. Winning his class at the US Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana and then went on to win the Winter Nationals at Pomona, California. After the Fairlane he enjoyed restoring not one, but 2 Shelby Cobras. And also, a Mustang GT 350. After his muscle car years, he then turned to his passion for the antique car, restoring a classic 1934 Ford Town Car. That car was rumored to be owned by the late actress Paulette Goddard. He received an invite to the invitation only Concours D' Elegance car show in Pebble Beach California. He won Best of Show at this most prestigious event.

In his later years, he always enjoyed a quiet life on the beautiful rolling hills of Oklahoma with his wife, the love of his life Iva of 66 years. Daughters Nancy Blocker and husband Robert, Julie Huntington and husband David. Grandson Justin Huntington and wife Kendall, great grandsons Kallen and Kase Huntington. Granddaughters Ariel Martin and husband Bradley, Kendra Mackey and the late Ashley Marie Huntington.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Living Word Church, 225 S. Ash St., Nowata, Oklahoma with Mr. Wayne Vineyard and Mr. David Huntington officiating. In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to the Nowata Museum of Nowata County Historical Society, 136 S. Oak St., Nowata, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata.