KEIR “GRAMPA MOON” MOON of AMHERST, MA, July 13, 1950 – April 30, 2023
AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.
A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him. He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.
A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it.
He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.
Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.
Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.
There will be mourning bands available.
Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program or a charity of your choice.
Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com