Denise R. Moore
February 08, 2012
Denise R. Moore, 54, went to walk with her Lord Wednesday, February 8, 2012. She was born May 13, 1957 to Catherine (McFarland) Moore and Wilber J. Moore.
Denise was born with a severe disability known as osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bones. This did not prevent her from living a full life, she never stopped. She was active in the community in organizations concerning the disabled. She touched many lives and many people impacted her.
Denise spent her preschool years at the Easter Seals Center, attended Smouse School, and graduated from Des Moines Tech in 1975. She spent many summers at Camp Sunnyside and served as Miss Wheel Chair Iowa in 1979. The Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago played a very major role in the longevity of her life. Denise attended Grace Church in Des Moines for many years. She was currently employed with the Des Moines School district.
She is survived by her brother, Michael (Merlyn) and niece, Melinda; step-mother, Marian Moore; step-sisters, Joy Gappa, Denise Fetters, Annie McCormick, and Darcy Olson; step-brother, Lee Deal; many aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Denise was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m., with the family present from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, February 12, 2012, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at Grace Church, 4200 E. 25th Street, Des Moines, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Hopsitals or Camp Sunnyside in loving memory of Denise.
Sue Surber
02/13/2012
I am thinking of you and your family. I really enjoyed Denise when she lived at Park Place. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love Sue
Steve Gibbons
02/12/2012
To the Family of Denise Moore,
I received the news of the passing of Denise with a heavy heart and
many memories of our chance meetings at lunch time along the sky walk.
Please accept my condolences and know Denise was the the kind of friend
I always enjoyed running into.
She was and will continue to be a pleasant memory in my mind.
God Bless,
Steve Gibbons
Sonya & LaJo Young, Joan Heskett
02/12/2012
We were sorry to hear of Denise's passing. We met Denise thru LPA. Her sense of humor about herself and her out look on life with her disability was great. She understood about being disable and could make a bad day turn sunny just by her talking to you. We have many fond memories of her from time spent with her at LPA conventions and meetings. She will be missed.
With sympathy,
Sonya Young
LaJo Young
Joan Heskett
Sallie Hedgepeth
02/12/2012
Denise touched my life and I consider it a privelige to have known her. She loved the students at RVM, and rejoiced in all their celebrations and successes. She will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace, Denise.
Francine Thompson
02/12/2012
Being a parent of a child with OI, you always notice another person with OI. Our family met Denise at the Iowa State Fair almost thirty years ago. From that time on we enjoyed many visits with Denise most of them being at Iowa State Fair. We will miss seeing her streaking by in her chair at the Fair!
Jan Townsend
02/12/2012
We have known Denise for many years and always enjoyed her upbeat attitude. Our daughter, Becky, was Denise's companion when she went to the National Miss Wheel Chair pageant. She was a unique person and she will be missed by all who knew her.
Karen Cason
02/12/2012
Denise you were a beautiful person inside and out and I enjoyed meeting you. I will never forget the sense of humor and beautiful smile you always had God Bless
Michael Stilwell
02/11/2012
She was a great crusader and always upbeet.I will miss her at the next class 75 reunion. I know that the good lord has a special place waiting to receive Her. God bless Denise and all of her family. She will be watching over us all to the end of time.
Dean & Karen Dawson
02/11/2012
Denise was such a joy to be around - always positive and optimistic - you could always count on her telling a funny story to make you laugh! We grew to love her as classmates at Tech and then were thrilled to re-c0nnect with her at Grace Church. We were blessed to be her friends and she was so supportive and encouraging of our mission work. I will miss her sweet spirit - but look forward to an awesome reunion one day! She is definately having a party with Jesus right now!
Claire Record
02/11/2012
Found out about Denise's passing on FB this morning and my heart sank when I saw the news... Loved Denise's happy spirit and unwillingness to let any disability keep her from doing what she loved to do.
Will be praying for you all as you walk through your grief of losing her.
God bless...
Claire Record
Adam
02/11/2012
I knew her when i went to Hoover High School in Des Moines
P.J. Mayfield
02/11/2012
It was my pleasure and joy to become a friend of Denise in this last year. Denise had come several times to Illahee Hills where I work, and we shared many lunches together laughing. We discovered that we had many friends in common. and had gone to school with common friends. We laughed hysterically and giggled like a couple of junior high girls. I know that Heaven is a happier place and St. Peter is enjoying a good chuckled with her now. Please accept my sincerest condolences at your loss. Please keep my new friend alive in your memories and times of laughter.
Carolyn Slone
02/11/2012
Goodbye, Denise. You will always be in my memories. You were just ahead of our son at Tech and then you came to work for The Principal Financial Group, in Group Word Processing. What a little piece of dynamite you were. You might have been "little" but you were mighty. So many have remarked about your laugh and it will long be remembered. There will be no more pain for you now; run and fly with the angels and enjoy your next life.
Barbara Perkins, School Counselor
02/11/2012
Denise, You set the bar for having courage and passion for life! I fondly remember the times you spent in DMPS classrooms with me, candidly and so very openly sharing the remarkable story of your life. You welcomed all questions and curious comments from kids and, were one of the kids with your infectious giggle and that certain twinkle in your eye. Your memory will be eternal. You made a huge contribution to my life and perspective.
You, Denise, will be missed on this earth. WIth gratitude~
Karen Fulton Sereg
02/10/2012
I had shared alot of laughs with Denise...her giggle made you smile! Got to get out of classes early to help her get through the halls at school. Glad I got to catch up and hang out with her at the Des Moines Art Festival a few years ago. Always will remember her as one determined lady...