JOHN P. MOORHOUSE
February 1, 1940 – January 29, 2023
John P. Moorhouse, Jr., 82, passed away peacefully at home after a long illness on January 29, 2023. John was born February 1, 1940, in Abington, PA, to John P. Moorhouse and Barbara (Dutton) Moorhouse.
John's early education took place in a one-room school in Jenkintown, PA. The family later moved to nearby Prospectville, where he attended HatboroHorsham High School, played varsity football, and was a member of the debate team. He worked on a dairy farm, raised Jersey cows for 4-H, and served on the regional 4-H vegetable team that traveled to Atlanta, GA, to compete in the national vegetable judging finals. After graduating, John went to Amherst College in Amherst, MA, where he rowed on the crew team and graduated with a major in economics.
John began his work as a property and casualty insurance agent in Baltimore, MD. He believed the purpose of insurance was to help people. While commuting to work on the bus, John met his first wife, Katharine Louise Macdonald. They were married in 1964. John and Kathie had two children, Mary McKim Moorhouse (Mollie) and John Pancoast Moorhouse lll (Jake). The family moved to Amherst, NH, in 1971, where John continued his work in insurance. He also served on the Amherst Fire Department as a volunteer, and was captain of the ladder truck, and an EMT. He was a member of the vestry at the Church of our Savior in Milford, NH. John lost Kathie to heart disease in October, 1986.
John was elected to the board of trustees of the Amherst Town Library, and served as president of the board for many years. It was in this capacity that he met Ginger, when they, along with the other library trustees, helped raise funds for an addition to the library.
John and Ginger were married in 1990, and John embraced his new family, Ginger's children, guiding them through their teenage years, and patiently teaching each of them to drive! John and Ginger moved to Bakersfield in 1994, and John began working at KIA Insurance. He served on the board of directors of The Bakersfield Californian as chairman of the audit committee. He was a board member of the Southern Sierra Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a member of Downtown Rotary, and a member of Kern Audubon Society. He was also president of the Tree Foundation of Kern for many years.
John loved sharing stories with family and friends, and spending long summer days in Bear Valley Springs with his children and grandchildren. Mowing the fields on his tractor, keeping the rows straight, and doing ranch chores filled happy days. He loved his family, animals, birds, especially ducks, and tending his small flock of chickens. He and Ginger shared many adventures, and hiked, bicycled, and rode horses together.
John was the gold standard for gentle kindness. He lived with honesty and integrity and a loving heart. He listened with love and empathy, and counseled with gentle guidance. John brought sunshine into all of our lives, even through his last, most challenging days.
John is survived by his wife of 32 years, Ginger Moorhouse; his sister Joan Polishan, of Wolfeboro, NH; his daughter, Mary McKim Moorhouse Dorsey, and husband, Toby Dorsey, and grandchildren, John Moorhouse Dorsey, and Esme Louise Dorsey, of Silver Spring, MD. He is also survived by Gingers children, Tracey Cowenhoven, of Bakersfield, CA; Virginia (Ginny) Cowenhoven of Malibu, CA; Peter Cowenhoven, wife Anna, and granddaughter, Grace Cowenhoven, of Brookline, MA; and nephews James Long and wife Alana of Dover, NH, and Ben Long and wife Sharon of Wolfeboro, NH, and their children; and many cousins.
Our family would like to thank our amazing workers and helpers, Jessica Flores and Erik Garcia-Marquez. Thanks also to our wonderful caregivers, Stella Sotelo and Reem Alammari.
In memory of John, please give a smile to someone who needs one, and hold your loved ones close. We will miss him forever and feel blessed to have had him in our lives.
A celebration of John's life will be held at a later date.