07/16/2024
It’s a sad day for the Cycle-Moore family.
Shirley Ann Moore, 88, of Interlochen, MI, passed peacefully at her home on Sunday, July 14th, 2024. By her side was the love of her life and husband of 59 years, Steven P. Moore, her beloved Shih Tzi, Bandita (aka Sissy) along with their children Linda (Mitch) Mitchem, Richard (Jean) Carmien, Judy (Derek Smith) James, and Earl (Lisa) Carmien. She was welcomed to her heavenly home by her parents, Frank and Josephine Weller, brother Frank Weller, daughter Elizabeth Frye, and granddaughters Melissa Dunn and Kiersten Carmien. She is survived and will be missed by her grandchildren Teresa (Paul) Floch, Joshua (Adriana) Broaddus, Rachael (Austin) Jones, CJ (Jessie Spell) Carmien, Brian (Swathi Kodiganti) Carmien, Kyle Carmien, Bill James, Sarah (Zefram) Korson, Steve (Mercedes) Carmien, Madison (Trevor) Williams, and Stacy (Taryn) Almquist. She will also be greatly missed by her 24 great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, her sister-in-law Joan Weller Rowland, and brother-in-law Paul (Karen) Moore, daughter “Two” Jody Jordan, “adopted son” John Silny, and her much loved nieces and nephews.
Shirley was born in Traverse City but grew up on a farm in Buckley, attending Buckley schools. She had five children by her first husband, raising them as a single parent for many years. On October 16, 1965, she married Steve who became an instant and amazing father. They met at Wikle’s Harley Davidson where Shirley bought a motorcycle Steve was selling – they always joked that he got his motorcycle back and five kids to go with it! For their honeymoon they rode that bike around Lake Michigan, stopping at the Harley factory in Wisconsin, then riding home in the snow! Shirley loved to ride and was a lifetime member of the Motor Maids – a national organization of women motorcyclists - and in the sixties was voted Top Girl Rider in the country multiple times. She was also a member of the local Cherryland Eagles Motorcycle Club and became a licensed motorcycle mechanic so that she could accompany Steve into the pits during his racing career.
Shirley worked multiple jobs to help support her family – many in the motorcycle industry at various dealerships, and as a school bus driver for Traverse City Public Schools. In 1975 Shirley and Steve purchased a campground near Interlochen and started Cycle-Moore, Inc. – a motorcycle repair shop, museum, and campground, servicing “Every Brand Known to Man.” Shirley “The Whip” managed the business until her semi-retirement in 2021. During those 46 years she promoted countless events including over 30 years of the Great Lakes Harley Round-Up, Toys for Tots Bike Runs, the Garbage-a-Thon Bike Run (a motorcycle ride picking up trash along the road) and many, many others – aways adding some aspect to benefit the local Salvation Army - her favorite charity that helped her out as a single mom. Shirley and Steve also spent over three decades traveling the motorcycle swap meet circuit, selling motorcycle parts all over the Midwest, Florida, and even Sturgis, SD – taking many of their children and grandchildren with them on their travels. Shirley was also very active in her community, serving on the Green Lake Twp fire department and as president of the Interlochen Chamber of Commerce.
Everyone was family to Shirley – no one was a stranger, just family not yet met – and many hundreds of people called her Mom. She had a huge heart and was always willing to give up - to give to others.
RIDE ON, Mom. We all love you and will miss you dearly.
A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held on September 28th, 2024 at 4pm at Cycle-Moore Legacy Campground. We’ll honor Mom with an avenue of bikes followed by a potluck dinner and sharing SHIRLEY STORIES…..
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Traverse City Salvation Army.
