Lyle Moore

Our Dad, Lyle Frank (Parochetti) Moore passed away quickly, quietly, & with peace on Tuesday October 11, 2022. With his health declining due to end-stage COPD, he chose “comfort measures” after a fall at home. We are so thankful to the staff at Trinity Health Muskegon, & especially Dr Caitlin Fulton & Dr Kristina Gaunt for truly listening, caring, & meeting all of dad’s needs

Dad was born in Muskegon on July 17, 1936 to Frank & Dollena (Lancaster) Parochetti. It was a tough childhood, with divorce, poverty, adoption by a new step father, & the great depression weighing on the family, which included a little sister Sally in 1941. By age 11yrs or so, dad had gone to live with his grand parents Lyle & Selina Lancaster. He spent time fishing with his grandpa at the Muskegon channel, played in the band, & worked his way through high school at Benson’s Drugs. After graduation from high school, Dad wanted to continue working in the pharmacy by becoming a pharmacist. Even when grandpa Lancaster said he did not have the money for college, Dad said he could do it on his own. He graduated four years later from Ferris Institute.

While at Ferris, he met Karen Lewis who was also in the pharmacy program. They married in 1960 at her home church in Flint MI, moved to Ann Arbor, then Livonia, & had 3 daughters: Kelly Ann, Jennifer Anne, & Elizabeth Ann. And these given names were what dad lovingly called us girls, whether or not we were in trouble. A man with a good palate, he encouraged his girls to try new foods. At the dinner table, he’d often say, “I’ll give you a nickel if you’ll take a bite”. He also had some unusual tastes which is why he needed to bribe his young girls. Burnt toast, & orange rinds are two classic dad “odd eats”. To this day, our family still attempts to bribe each other to try anything new by saying, “I’ll give you a nickel if…”.

Dad was always gentle when it came to discipline. This probably refers back to his difficult childhood. Mom tried to use the line, “Wait til your father gets home”, if we had done something wrong. Little did we know that Mom had all the tough punishments! Dad would just say, “You’ll do better next time, right?”

Dad continued his education and received his masters degree in pharmacy from Wayne State University. He used this education, along with his innate ability to lead, to integrate two major Detroit Hospital pharmacies. After the merger, Dad was asked to lead the new team as Director of Pharmacy.

During the civil rights movement, dad was very thoughtful. He made sure that we were aware of the world around us, and that all of our questions were answered. We learned by watching him, he led by example.

After Dad & Mom’s marriage ended, he spent time in Detroit, California, & Chicago. We didn’t see Dad as much during those years, but there was never a doubt that he loved us. He struggled through some issues, & returned to Michigan in the mid 1990’s, spending time in Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, & finally returning to his roots in Muskegon in 2008. He had reconnected with his sister Sally & they became very close. He volunteered for many years at Hackley Hospital, enjoying the work, but mostly the people.

Through the power of the internet, Dad was “found” by his Parochetti family from the Detroit area. Dad never knew his real father, who left soon after Dad was born, & died of TB around 1940. This very Italian Parochetti family welcomed Dad “home” with a huge Italian feast & a gathering that was fit for an Oprah TV show. Here he found a sister Dody, her son Michael (who had done the internet sleuthing), his father’s siblings Uncle Pete & Aunt Dena, plus a host of other relatives. Dad was able to travel to Italy in 2004 with relatives & see where his father lived, & experienced the food, music, & dance of his ancestors. This reconnection with his paternal family & Italian roots helped Dad heal in many ways.

Dad was a natural people person, & always knew how to make conversation with absolutely anyone. People felt at ease with Dad and quickly learned to enjoy his company. Though he enjoyed listening to others, he was equally at ease sharing his opinions with a firm assertion that he was right and there was nothing else to say about it. He never shied from difficult topics and especially loved talking about politics. With a youthful appearance and a delight in simple pleasures, Dad was loved by his family & those who knew him.

Dad was well known for approaching all tasks with precision and skill. Artistic as well, he possessed a keen eye for décor and design. He loved exotic things, antiques, & anything Art Deco!! Dad was a wonderful giver of gifts. It could never be a “pedestrian” gift. It had to have Dad’s flair somehow attached. Small, unusual boxes, antique quilts or tablecloths, chocolate covered cherries from McDonalds Candy in Muskegon are a few of the highlights. The whole family can identify a “Poppy gift”. He loved to help his girls, especially when it came to painting their homes. He learned to be a pretty good cook and had an eye for automobiles. He could identify just about any car on the road, even from a good distance. A fan of baseball, there always seemed to be a game on his television, especially when the Cubs and Tigers were playing. He also loved music. Classical tunes, Elton John songs, and the rock opera Tommy were longtime favorites.

Dad wanted his girls to try new things and go to exotic places. Exotic was one of dad’s favorite words. That meant that it was something which sounded magical, something he wanted to experience. He had taste, vision, class, and so much love for his family.

With a persevering spirit and a gift for connecting with others, Dad lived a full and meaningful life. Regardless of life’s difficulties, he never waivered in his love and appreciation for his family, who will long remember and miss his companionship.

Lyle Frank Moore (Parochetti) passed away on October 11, 2022, in his hometown of Muskegon. He is survived by his children, Kellyann & Martin Pabich, Jennifer Anne & David Shane, Elizabeth Ann & Tom Bonkoski; his former wife and longtime friend, Karen Lewis Shane; grandchildren Samantha (Andy) Spiel, Katharine (Phil) Levin, Nicholas (Lisa) Pabich, Alex Shane (Marissa), Brian Shane, Joshua Ottobre (Sierra), Joseph Ottobre, Matthew Ottobre, and Sarah Ottobre; many great-grandchildren; his dear sister, Sally Porter; cousins Linda & Steve Bouwman; his extended family Kevin & Debbe Shane and their children Jenn (Nick) Brigstock and Jillianne Shane; and his Italian relatives in Detroit including Frances Larremore, Frank Parochetti, and Michael Parochetti. Lyle was preceded in death by his sister, Dody Morris.

A Celebration of Life event will be held on June 3, 2023. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Human Rights Campaign.