John A. Moore, Jr.

On Sunday October 2, 2022 John A. Moore, Jr.passed away at the age of 78 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas; he was surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by his mother Mae (Ramsey) Moore who passed July 1, 1999.

John is survived by his wife Deborah, to whom he was a devoted husband; four children, Kevin (Liz) Moore, Alan (Cori) Moore, Christy (Colby E.) Birney and Jarrod (Aimee) Birney to whom he provided unending love, support and advice; and seven grandchildren, Colby and Tanner (Alan and Cori), Caleb, Stacey and Jace (Christy and Colby E.) and Penelopie and Felicitie (Jarrod and Aimee) all of whom affectionately called him "Papa John". A sister Wanda (Don) Justice and nephew Jerry Moore also survive.

John was born in Monticello, Arkansas on February 23, 1944 but graduated from Mesquite High School in Mesquite Texas. It was there he picked up the nickname Skeeter based on his alma mater's mascot the Mesquite "Skeeters". He would sometimes use this nickname at restaurants or when ordering a drink purely for smiles.

In 1966 John received honors from the coeducational professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi at the University of Texas at Arlington where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1972. He went on to receive honors in 1981 from the International Business Honors Society Beta Gamma Sigma while at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In 1983 John graduated with his Masters of Business Administration in Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

John served in the Navy from January 1967 to January 1973 and was a Viet Nam veteran.

Professionally John was affiliated with Leadership of Greater Topeka, Class of 2001, Kansas Health Foundation Leadership Institute, 2003 and served on the Azura Credit Union Supervisory Committee.

On May 2, 1969 John married Cathy Lunsford in Dallas Texas and together they had two sons Kevin and Alan. On October 6, 2001 he then married Deborah Sullivan, a union from which he gained two "bonus" (step) children Christy and Jarrod Birney.

John enjoyed being outdoors and being active, which sometimes led to interesting stories such as losing half a thumb using a wood splitter. Once past the trauma of losing part of a digit he was a good sport about it when all of the family would tease him. He also enjoyed playing golf with friends and RVing with his wife, spending May 2014 to November 2017 traveling the country and seeing all the sites, friends, and family in almost every state.

John provided a safe space for everyone, a space where love was felt, voices were heard and conversations could be had without judgment. He will forever be missed but will be remembered for the amazing human being he was.

A quiet service was held Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Mount Hope in Topeka, Kansas and on Saturday November 5 a celebration of life where friends and family can gather and tell stories of the man that touched their lives in so many ways. This celebration will be held at 5:00pm at the Celtic Fox, 118 SW 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Washburn School of Business Scholarship Fund sent to The Washburn University Foundation, 1729 SW MacVicar Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or online at www.wualumni.org/givenow