Marshall Johnson Moorman

Lt.Col.Marshall  Moorman (Ret)

January 18, 1948

November 08,2020

Norland High School Miami, FL

United States Air Force Academy

Class of ‘72 - Best in Blue

Fortitudo Per Aspera

“Strength Through Adversity”

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marshall Johnson Moorman. A 1972 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Marshall exemplified his USAFA class motto, “Strength Through Adversity”. He made a career as a pilot of C-130’s and the vital C-5 Galaxy. Later, as a Federal Employee he coordinated the changes of all the C-5 manuals. He retired after thirty-four combined years of active duty and reserve service.

His parents were both pilots during WWII. His mother, a WASP along with Dora Dougherty, also a WASP made history flying the B-29 Superfortress, under the command of Lt. Col Paul W. Tibbetts Jr.  Men had been extremely reluctant to fly the B-29 for a number of reasons. When these women flew it, that changed everything, just as Lt. Col. Tibbetts had expected. Men began flying it regularly. Mission Accomplished.

For a large portion of Marshall’s career, he was based in San Antonio, TX and later in Warner Robins and Macon, Georgia, though he traveled all over the world on frequent missions. He was fond of saying that he’d “seen a lot of places four hours at a time”. He participated in Vietnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Kuwait’s liberation and flew humanitarian aid into Bosnia. Being a pilot, he was trained in jungle survival, free fall parachute jumping among numerous other skills.

Marshall loved his family with all his heart. He’s survived by his newlywed wife, Kathy Moorman. Following a four-year courtship and having only been married two years, they were still very much on their honeymoon.  He cherished her just as Jesus says you should cherish your wife and the feeling was mutual. He is also survived by his daughters Kathleen “Cupcake” Moorman and Marcia “Cookie” Moorman; his step-sons Chris (Betty) Hill, Matt (Ashley) Lemon; and step-grandsons Brodie, Charles, Jack, Carter and Thomas, who have taught him a thing or two about how little boys will be boys! He was loving it.

His surviving, close and fun-loving siblings Henry Moorman ((Steve Koets), Robin Moorman, Chuck Moorman and Susan (Peter) Moorcroft were a big inspiration to him as he fought his cancer with chemo, a stem cell transplant and emerging T-cell therapy. He’s also survived by several nieces and nephews, including a very special nephew John Keller, who checked on Marshall routinely and never failed to cheer him up. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Dorothea “Didi” Moorman and his infant daughter Dorothea Claire. His wife Carole also preceded him and is inurned at Macon Memorial Park Macon, GA.

Marshall fought a courageous battle against sudden onset aggressive stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (DLBCL). He took part in Phase III of a clinical trial at Emory University hoping others would benefit from the research. Not once did he ever complain about the pain or major side effects. He was a loving and grateful patient / husband throughout this entire debilitating year.

In what turned out to be his last hospitalization, before God called him home, he fought chemo toxicity, septic shock, kidney failure and a major stroke. All of that proved too much to overcome. On Sunday, Nov. 8th at 3:45 AM, he passed away with his wife holding his hand while sitting by his side. He had lost the battle, but he most definitely won the war.

Marshall was hospitalized ten times this year and some stays were quite lengthy. Somewhere around his 4th hospitalization COVID restrictions were implemented and no visitors were allowed. As a man who didn’t care much for TV,, once he felt like he was strong enough to escape the confines of his hospital room he would become quite animated, setting off his bed alarm, etc. His repetitive one-liner to every single staff member who entered his room was a firm “WHAT do I have to DO to go HOME”!

Marshall, now you are truly HOME!! As a born-again Christian, you’ve gone HOME, to be with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for eternity. You gave up your earthly pilot wings and took flight. In fact, Captain Moorman, you’ve racked up some major flight hours as we are left to mourn the loss of your humor, your wit, your puns, your bear hugs and kisses, your everyday enjoyable presence and your strong and loving personality.

Almighty God, we thank you for the time you gave each of us with Marshall as a husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor. Marshall, we will all be on “Stand By” until Jesus comes again or God calls us home.

Due to COVID restrictions there will be no service at this time. There will be a Commitment Service at a later date at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. He will be interred with his three month old daughter, Dorothea Claire.

The family thanks the Emory Bridgeway Hospice unit for their specialized care his last five days. They treated him with dignity and respect. The family also thanks Navicent Home Health, in Macon for their professional skills, advice and encouragement.

The family  requests donations in his honor go to www.SIDS.org, which is close to his heart because that’s what took the life of his darling baby Dorothea or to Macon Volunteer Clinic, 376 Rogers Ave. Macon, GA 31204 where he had volunteered weekly since retirement. This valuable free clinic serves the medical needs of those who are employed and have no medical insurance.

The family may be contacted at zoomie3772@aol.com.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.

www.sids.org
Web: http://www.sids.org