WEST BOYLSTON
James Lee Moorefield, 81, of Naples, Florida died in Naples on June 11, 2004 while surrounded by his three children. He moved to Florida in 1994 but was a long-time resident of West Boylston, MA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Ward Moorefield, who died in 1987. He is survived by his children, Nancy and her husband Michael Latka of Princeton, MA; David and his wife Marie Devens-Moorefield of West Boylston, MA; and Jim and his wife Jo of Corvallis, OR; and grandchildren Katrina Latka Stacy and Becky and Heather Latka; Alaina and Erin Moorefield; and Christopher and Liana Moorefield.
He was born June 12, 1922 in Beckley, West Virginia to Terrance and Judith Shepherd Moorefield. The caption under his picture in his high school year book stated, "He is the swellest friend anyone could ever have". Among the jobs he held as a young man were working in the deep coal mines around Beckley and using his great speaking voice as a radio announcer.
In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and in 1943, while stationed in Texas, he met his future wife, Joyce Ward. "Drawn to her charms" and winning her hand over the affections of an officer, they were married December 9, 1944.
During World War II he served in the Philippines and then in Japan immediately following the war. He served again during the Korean War and then remained in the Army Infantry Reserves until 1965 when he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Throughout his life he maintained a steadfast love of his country.
He graduated from Concord College in 1947 after which he taught high school and coached sports in Raleigh County, West Virginia. In later years he continued his coaching career as a boys YMCA church league basketball coach in the West Boylston area.
In 1953 he received a law degree from the University of Virginia and then joined the legal staff of the Paul Revere Life Insurance Company in Worcester, MA. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1954. His children will always remember the trip to Washington DC in 1964 when they were proud to see him admitted to practice before the U.S Supreme Court.
He worked at Paul Revere for 27 years where he rose through various legal and management positions, including senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. In 1975 he was awarded a "Boss of the Year" award by the local chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. He was serving as the company’s Senior Vice President in charge of Government and Consumer Affairs when he left in 1980 to become President of the Health Insurance Association of America in Washington DC. He worked at HIAA until his retirement in 1987.
During his career in the insurance industry he was a frequent contributor to professional journals and served on various national advisory committees that dealt with issues such as insurance, catastrophic illness, organ transplants, and AIDS.
During his 27 years in Massachusetts he was active in civic affairs including his repeated election from 1959 to 1974 as Moderator for the Town of West Boylston. He was also a deacon at the First Congregatonal Church for many years and served on the Board of Directors of the Worcester Area Council of Churches.
He served as coordinator for Elliot Richardson’s campaigns for Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. He served on a number of business-related and nonprofit organization boards including Guaranty Bank and Trust, the Conifer Group, the Worcester Chapter of the American Red Cross, Memorial Hospital, and Holden District Hospital.
During his retirement in Florida he remained in contact with current events in West Boylston, a town and home he loved. He especially enjoyed hosting regular family trips and reunions with his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. His children will always be grateful for the great love he showed his family.
A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, June 19th, at 10:00 a.m at the First Congregational Church, 26 Central Street, West Boylston. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Red Cross of Central Massachusetts, 2000 Century Drive, Worcester, MA 01606-1256 or The West Boylston Summer Recreation Fund, C/O Parks Commissioners, 120 Prescott Street, West Boylston, MA 01583. FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 1 West Boylston St. is directing arrangements.