Christopher Stewart Moorehead

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. – Christopher Stewart Moorehead, 60, died suddenly at his home here on June 29, 2024.

He was born Oct. 18, 1963 in Ridgewood, N.J. to Joan S. and Robert M. Moorehead. He grew up in South Paris and Waterville, attending schools in those towns, spent a freshman year at Babson (Massachusetts) College and graduated with honors from the University of Maine at Orono in 1986. He graduated from California Western University Law School in 1989.

Chris grew up hunting and fishing in Maine and completed a 30-day Outward Bound course in the Mahousuc Mountains in January of his freshman year college year. He remembered the experience fondly and said it was one of the best things he ever did. He was always ready for fishing trips to the Rangeley Lakes region whenever possible. He was an intense music fan, collected concert posters and frequently attended concerts around the eastern U.S. until a week before his death.

He practiced law in Fayetteville starting in 1990 as a public defender, later as a prosecutor in the Nicholas County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, then shifted to private practice at Garrett and Garrett before starting his own practice. While in law school, he interned in the federal defenders office in San Diego, Calif. He was a member of the California, West Virginia and North Carolina bar associations and was licensed the practice before the federal courts. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Fayette County Civil Service Commission and chairman of the 12th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Corporation. He was appointed by the court as Guardian Ad Litum (representing the legal interest of minors) of the Fayette County Court operation.

In June 1994, he married Catherine Modek of Cleveland, Ohio. They were divorced in 2023.

Chris is survived by his parents of Paris Hill; a sister, Kathryn of Cayce, S.C., a brother and sister-in-law, Timothy and Kavita of Savannah, Ga.; nephews Liam and Max and niece, Sophia, all of Savannah, Ga.; and his dog, Floey.

A memorial service will be held in Fayetteville, W.Va. at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. Online condolences may be shared with his family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Charitable contributions

in Chris’ memory may be made to the

New River Humane Society (nrhswv.com) or

The West Virginia Child Advocacy Network

(wvcan.org)