Michael Moore: Mount Coolum woman pays tribute to “loving, gentle” husband

A Sunshine Coast woman has paid tribute to her “soulmate” who passed away suddenly, remembering him as a gentle man and child at heart.

A Mount Coolum woman has paid tribute to her husband and soulmate, remembering him as a “superhero” who brought joy, valuable lessons and unconditional love to her life.

Michael ‘Valentine’ Moore passed away peacefully last month at just 38 years old, leaving behind his wife and partner of seven years, Chelsea Hunter, 29.

“He showed me what unconditional love is, how to be selfless and that being a good person is hard work,” Chelsea said.

“He gave me more than I can put in words.

“I’ve never met a better example of what a strong masculine male is, that also has a gentle sensitive childlike side.

“We are both children at heart, and that is one thing I love about him.”

Chelsea said Michael wore a suit every day.

“His suit was his costume, like those of super heroes,” she said.

“He was one, in many ways that are beyond human comprehension,” she said.

Chelsea Hunter has paid tribute to her “soulmate” Michael Moore who passed away last month.

The couple met just over seven years ago online, where Chelsea reached out to him after seeing him helping others with kind, counselling posts.

After speaking every day for six months, Chelsea was able to travel to America and stayed with Michael for three months.

During the trip, he proposed with a bubble machine ring and told Chelsea he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

The couple continued a long distance relationship back and forth for several years until Michael was eventually able to settle in Australia, and three years ago they married.

“Our wedding rings are also from a bubble machine” Chelsea said.

“I had found two of the same ring months apart from this one machine and it was a sign.

“We had a day that was full of love and even though we didn’t have a lot, we made it special”.

Chelsea said she loved that Michael was like a "child at heart.”

In July this year, Michael was rushed to hospital and over the next five weeks his organs began to shut down.

Due to Covid restrictions, Chelsea was at times not allowed to see Michael and her time was split between caring for him full time, sleeping in her car and working.

“He didn’t want to die in hospital, we had planned to come home and I had all the neighbours helping me out trying to figure out how to get him back safely to do outpatient dialysis but then things suddenly took a turn right before we were due back,” she said.

“He was then given between a few hours to a few days to live.”

Chelsea said a kind renal social worker put her in touch with Katie Rose Cottage Hospice in Doonan.

“After a long, stressful transit wait, Michael was finally was able to receive palliative care and pain relief in his last few days,” she said.

Chelsea was able to fulfil Michael’s final wishes with help from the community through a GoFundMe and social media.

Despite being mostly non-responsive upon arrival, Michael opened his eyes and gave Chelsea the “biggest, genuine smile she had ever seen” and an unexpected kiss.

Michael wished to be buried, so while in hospital Chelsea put a call out for help on Facebook for ideas and was overwhelmed by the response from the community.

“A friend started a GoFundMe and everyone kindly raised enough for his burial,” Chelsea said.

Michael passed away peacefully on August 19, a few days before their third wedding anniversary.

He was laid to rest on September 2 in Mapleton.

“I feel him with me and his love is keeping me going and bringing out some clarity, peace and strength I didn’t believe I had,” she said.

“I still talk to him, he always gives me little signs of his presence.”

Michael was laid to rest in Mapleton on September 2.

“I’m trying to see this whole experience as a catalyst opportunity to encourage community kindness and help other people that are struggling with sickness and loss as well.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done and still do my sweetheart, and to everyone who has helped me fulfil his last wishes.”

Chelsea also thanked non-profit Katie Rose Cottage Hospice staff and volunteers for their loving support in Michael’s final days.

“I hope more people learn about them and with donations and support maybe help us reach the dream of six beds, then six cottages and then worldwide,” she said.

“They are an example of what genuine health care should be like.”