Dr James Moir's wife dies suddenly

The wife of well-known Coast doctor, James Moir, passed away suddenly at the family home in Diddillibah in the early hours of Sunday August 31, after a surprise party for their daughter Emily.

Dr James Moir with his 11-year-old daughter Hannah and Bowie the dog. Julie Moir, inset, died suddenly on August 31. Photo: Nicholas Falconer/178131

“She had the most beautiful smile you ever saw.”

That was the first thing that caught Dr James Moir’s eye when he met a nurse named Julie at Townsville Hospital back in 1987.

And her smile is just one of the many things he will miss about the woman with whom he has shared the last 21 years.

Julie Moir passed away suddenly at the family home in Diddillibah in the early hours of Sunday August 31, after a surprise party for their daughter Emily.

The party was a joint celebration for Emily’s birthday and also a farewell for the 17-year-old, who will head to Europe in a few weeks.

Shortly after she said goodnight to the last of the guests, Julie slipped into a coma in a chair in the lounge room and never woke up.

Early tests indicated she may have suffered a heart arrhythmia.

Julie leaves behind four children, Alex, Emily, Callum and Hannah who range in age from 19 to 11- the youngest two attend Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

Dr Moir said his wife was a wonderful mother and friend who was always the life of the party.

“She loved people, meeting people,” he said.

“She was a little shy at first but with those she knew well she was gregarious, extroverted, happy and outgoing.”

“She loved having friends around for barbecues and dinner parties, she put a lot of work into her parties.”

He said he could not imagine what life would be like without her.

“A bit lonely and a bit empty,” Dr Moir said.

The couple worked sided by side at Moir Medical Services in Buderim.

Since they moved to the Sunshine Coast in 1993, Dr Moir has delivered more than 2,000 babies.

Both were originally from the United Kingdom but immigrated to Australia in 1989.

11-year-old Hannah agreed that life would by lonely without her mum.

“Not hearing the champagne cork pop,” was one of the things she said she would miss.

Julie’s eldest daughter Emily will speak at a memorial service to be held at Gregson and Weight Chapel in Wises Road, Maroochydore at 11am on Monday.

“But most of all I want to thank you for the person you are,” Emily will read.

“The most beautiful, selfless, funniest, amazing person I know.”

Originally published as Dr James Moir's wife dies suddenly