Daniel K. Moriarity

Daniel King ("Murph") Moriarity died at the age of 91 on November 28th, 2011, near Marco Island, Florida. Dan was born on Oct. 13, 1920 in Union City Indiana to Daniel and Mabel Moriarity, and lived in Indianapolis for 80 years until moving to Marco Island in 2003 to be closer to his two daughters. He graduated from Indianapolis Arsenal Technical High School in 1939, and entered the local Apprentice Plumbers Program to follow in his father's footsteps. Dan married his high school sweetheart Bernice Gentry on Oct. 29, 1941, and two months later volunteered to enlist in the Service after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was accepted into the Navy Construction Battalion (the CBs or SeaBees) and spent a few months short of 3 years serving his country in the Aleutian Islands, and then on to Saipan and Okinawa, building the infrastructure for the war effort before the troops got there. After returning to Indianapolis, he and Bernice started their family, and Dan went to work for his father at Cook Brothers, a mechanical contracting firm. Dan took over leadership of the business during the years it built many major Indianapolis landmarks, such as the Wishard Hospital and University Hospital. He maintained an active teaching apprenticeship program for younger people entering the industry. He voluntarily closed down Cook Brothers during a union strike. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis then hired Dan to be the assistant director of their physical plant which among many duties included the extremely important careful removal of asbestos from multiple buildings under OSHA and EPA scrutiny. Dan was dedicated to exercise from his preteen years when he would walk several miles to the downtown YMCA, years of early morning swimming and workouts at the Indianapolis Athletic Club, up through his last years on Marco Island when he was still working out with a personal trainer twice a week. Dan was an active member of Kiwanis for 60 years. His bride, Bernice, died on their 54th wedding anniversary. They had 4 children who survive them (with their mates): Pastor Dan Moriarity (Linda), Jean Foster (Peter), Timothy Moriarity (Karen) and Mary Bartos (Joe). There are 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is survived by four younger siblings: Eva Arthur, John Moriarity, Myron Moriarity, and Nellie Kidd. There will be a showing in Indianapolis, Indiana at Flanner and Buchanan-Washington Park East on Saturday Dec. 10th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 1 p.m. There will be a celebration of life service on Marco Island in early January (date TBA). Donations may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association. A lot of things could be said of Dan's life, but 2nd Timothy may say it best. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith". You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan