Robert M. More was born in Kansas City, Mo., on June 27, 1935. He was the child of Robert and Alice (Braum) More. As a covenant child, he was baptized as an infant in the Kansas City RPC. Robert grew in his knowledge of the Scripture and made his profession of faith in Christ and united with the Kansas City RPC in 1945. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Apr. 29, 2014.

Robert graduated from Shawnee Mission High School in Kansas City, from Geneva College, and from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He was licensed by Midwest Presbytery in 1959 and was ordained in 1963 by St. Lawrence Presbytery as he was installed in the Almonte, Ont., RPC. He served as their pastor from 1964-75. During this pastorate he met Miss Ruth Burns and they were married on Oct. 7, 1967. They celebrated 46 years of marriage and had two children: Robert B. More and Sarah Elizabeth More.

Following the Almonte pastorate, he moved with his family to Denison, Kan. He received a Th.M. degree from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in adult and occupational education. He also received a certificate in clinical pastoral education from the Kansas Neurological Institute.

Robert was a licensed electrician who used his skills to help communities in which he lived. He worked as a human resources specialist for the State of Kansas, an arbitrator with the Kansas Better Business Bureau, a board member with the Vocational Education & Training of the Disabled & Handicapped, a federal advisory council member who helped provide jobs for the unemployed, and a teacher. In 1993 he and Ruth moved to Messena, N.Y., where they were employed by Walmart in human resources.

Dr. More was a pastor, teacher, and author. His book Aurora Borealis: A History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada (Covenanter) 1820-1967 is still in use today. He also authored a regular column in the Almonte Gazette.

At his death, he leaves his wife, Ruth; daughter, Sarah; and son, Robert and wife, Shelly; his sister Carolyn Skeens and husband, Bob; sister-in-law Carolyn More (widow of his brother, Wilbur); and grandchildren Skylar, Cassie, and Jacob.

His son, Robert, wrote the following in his eulogy to his father, delivered at the memorial service in the Almonte RPC on May 2:

“He never lost sight of who he was. He is the one who would hop the bleacher fence at the track meet and stand right beside the track so I would hear him as I came around the last bend. Finish strong, finish strong! He was the one at the ballpark that everyone could hear. Never did need a loudspeaker system. He was the one who showed zero sympathy on the basketball court. A game of 20 with him was like going 12 rounds, but the whole time saying don’t quit, don’t quit!

“He loved the fact that the Canadian RP Church grew after almost disappearing. It was with great pride that he was a Covenanter, a Scottish survivor against all odds. And you won’t find his name anywhere, because it wasn’t about him; it was about the work that needed to be done. We have known for a while that his journey was coming to an end on this earth, but his legacy has not. As long as a Canadian RP church exists, as long as the name More is associated with Christ, as long as we are helping those that need help, Dr. Robert More remains with us. And as he looks down on us from heaven, I know what he is saying. Keep going, don’t quit, finish strong!”

—Prepared by Robert H. McFarland