Leukemia claims Las Vegas youth Moore

Rebecca Malone

Wednesday, July 25, 2001 | 8:29 a.m.

A never-ending smile and a giving heart is what Alex Moore's family will remember most about him.

Moore, 12, of Las Vegas, died July 14 of leukemia while he was on vacation visiting relatives in Houston.

"He was always smiling and always wanting to help someone," Moore's brother, Jamaal, said. "He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it."

Moore, who was born Oct. 9, 1988, in Ridgecrest, Calif., and moved with his family to Las Vegas in 1999, was interested in doing community service work, Elizabeth Wines, Moore's history teacher at Woodbury Middle School, said. He became involved in a class project to lobby for a stoplight or sign on a busy road near the school, she said.

Wines said she could have seen Moore becoming involved in politics in order to protect people. Aside from wanting to help others, Moore liked to spend his time playing the alto saxophone and watching the Oakland Raiders.

Moore was ecstatic when he received letters, autographed pictures and rookie cards from members of the Raiders while he was in the hospital after he was first diagnosed with the disease three years ago, Wines said.

"You could never tell Alex was sick, he never acted like it," Ali Davis, Moore's cousin, said. "He was really a good person to be around."

Earnest Moore Sr. said his son didn't know any strangers. Everyone was a friend, he said.

Services were held Monday at Davis Paradise Funeral Home. The Rev. James A. Lucas of Union Baptist Church officiated.

In addition to his father, Moore is survived by his grandmother, Margaret Wade, of Ridgecrest, Calif.; seven brothers, Earnest, Jeremy, Isiah, and Joseph, all of Bakersfield, Calif., Jamaal of Fresno, Calif., and D'Ron Pittman and Curtis Saxton, both of Ridgecrest, Calif.; and six sisters, Janaye Moore, Brittany Moore and Alexis Moore, all of Bakersfield, and Zyera Hudson, Alptamise Hudson and Jakota Hudson, all of Las Vegas.

The family is asking the community for help in paying the outstanding funeral bill at Davis Paradise Valley Funeral Home. Alex's father does not have the funds to pay for preparation in Houston, transportation to Las Vegas and services in town.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help the family can send a check to Davis Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119. Make sure to note on the check that the money is intended for the Alex Moore fund.