SHELBY, Mich. — According to Pastor Steven Lister of Shelby Road Baptist Church, the loss of Troy Moran can be felt throughout the entire Hart and Whitehall communities.
"Whoever he met became a friend who felt seen and heard with each interaction," said Lister.
No less than a thousand people were in attendance for the Hart High School Principal's funeral Thursday afternoon, showing just how much of an impact he had.
"His family told me about a time once when his mom met a student at one of his schools and the student said he tied my shoe once," said Lister. "Troy paid attention to the little details of the people around him."
The 46-year-old was on a run Saturday afternoon when he had a heart attack.
When the news broke, the school district made sure that students would be able to say goodbye, something the pastor of Shelby Road Baptist Church said, Troy would have wanted. The school gave the students a half day on Thursday.
"Troy's life was filled with the fruit of love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and discipline," said Lister. "He poured these gifts out into everyone that he met. Especially those during his career in education, serving in five West Michigan school districts, no doubt many of you representing those districts today."
His brother, Todd Moran, touched on Troy's legacy, which included his love of his family, education, and fishing.
"He loved the summers off on his boat, and his dogs, those crazy dogs, Fishing, but most of all, he loved his girls," said Todd. "To Elle and Reagan, and your father was special, to so many people but you were his priority."
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