Rager H. Moore II, born Sept 2, 1959, in Midland TX, to R. Harrell Moore and Caroline “Brownie” Barsh Moore. Raised in Midland, Huntsville, and Houston, TX, with his two older brothers Charles (Charley) and Andrew (Andy), all of whom preceded him in death. Rager was educated at the University of Arkansas in Vocal Performance (BA & MA) and at UMKC Music Conservatory in Choral Directing (DMA). Between his masters and doctoral education, he moved to Santa Barbara, CA, with his family, where he studied voice and worked in hotel maintenance and as the choral director at Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Upon returning to Arkansas in 1987, he realized his deep love of teaching while working as a long-term substitute at Ramay Jr. High in Fayetteville, AR, and as an interim voice teacher at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR. After beginning his DMA, he was a professor at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS, where he finished his dissertation and raised his family. He was then a professor at the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID, where he was also the choir conductor at First Presbyterian Church, Moscow. He finished his career at University of Arkansas Fort Smith while also conducting the choir at Prairie Grove First United Methodist Church. Rager was very active in the choral and vocal performance community, participating in conferences, clinics, and competitions in every region where he lived. His favorite position after retirement was conducting the women’s chorus at Butterfield Trail Retirement Community in Fayetteville, AR.
Rager adored his wife of 41 years, Gigi Hall Moore, who he proudly proclaimed to be the love of his life to anyone who would listen. To his friends and family, he was fun loving, gregarious, had a great sense of humor, was a wonderful mentor, a fabulous conductor, a super-good grandfather (“B”), a loving husband, a doting father, a fantastic uncle, and the world’s best brother-in-law. In typical fashion, Rager died during his favorite week of the year – Holy Week – on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, surrounded by his family at the Willard Walker Hospice House, in Fayetteville, AR, of mechanical heart valve complications. He is survived by his wife, Gigi, of Prairie Grove, daughter #1, Caroline (Kevin) Russell, of Prairie Grove, daughter #2, Charlotte (Troy) Moore, of Prairie Grove, and daughter #3, Courtney (Doug) Rominger, of Nashville, TN, and by the pride of his life, his six grandchildren: Isaiah, Maggie, Jeremiah, and Joseph Russell and Morgan and Madison Moore. Rager is also survived by the huge Hall, Harrison, and Moore families, nieces and nephews who adore him, and countless former students and colleagues for whom he made a lasting difference.
He was known for his smile, big hugs, giant heart, unconditional love, and for the way he followed Jesus.
A private family service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:
The Call, thecallinarkansas.org
or
Prairie Grove First United Methodist Church
1401 E Parks St
Prairie Grove, AR 72753