Emotions flowed during a funeral for a fallen Montana police officer on Tuesday, with the cop’s wife sharing a portion of a touching letter that he wrote her before his death — a message he wanted her to read just in case anything happened to him on the job.
Sadly, the unthinkable unfolded, and Jodi Moore, wife of Broadwater County sheriff’s deputy Mason Moore, found herself opening that very letter after his death. Then, she bravely decided to share just a few of her husband’s words during his funeral.
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“He said, ‘Don’t let hate take over your life. I enjoyed every moment of life with you. Enjoy life,'” Jodi told those gathered.
Moore, a 42-year-old father of three, was gunned down on May 16 while trying to stop an SUV, and tributes for the officer — who also served as a volunteer fireman — have been pouring in since his untimely death.
“He was a man of love, and he wasn’t afraid to express it,” Pastor Curtis Crow said of Moore.
Expounding upon the role that love played in Moore’s life, Jodi illustrated her husband’s profound devotion, explaining how he would often express the depths of his care for her.
“Mason would look at me to make sure he had my attention and say, ‘I love you, I really, really love you.’ He made sure to tell me that often,” she said. “Mason’s hugs were an example of his love. Strong arms wrapping around you on the outside with a strong squeeze to show he wasn’t just throwing his arms around you.”
Sheriff Wynn Meehan was among those who expressed profound grief during the funeral. He said that his “heart’s broken,” while pouring out other raw emotions over the tragic loss of life.
“I’m a man without spirit right now, it’s definitely broken,” Meehan said. “And I know everybody else has a broken spirit, a broken heart.”
Hundreds of people lined the streets during Tuesday’s procession, with 500 law enforcement workers from four states taking part to show strong support for their fellow police officers, KPAX-TV reported.
Watch scenes from the heartbreaking funeral procession below:
A GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Moore’s wife and children has brought in more than $67,000 over the past week, exceeding its $60,000 goal.
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