KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, 75, died Tuesday.
Moore represented Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, which included Johnson and Wyandotte counties, and parts of Douglas county at the time of his service.
He had Alzheimer’s disease and spent much of his time later in life raising awareness about the illness.
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Moore died after a brief battle with cancer.
“While Dennis endured the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, he remained happy, gracious, dignified and with a constant sense of humor for which he was known,” his wife, Stephene Moore, said. “He stayed in touch with family and friends by phone calls and welcomed their visits. We were fortunate to experience all of Dennis’ amazing, fun and big personality which will stay within our hearts and for which we are forever grateful.”
Knowing the end is near for a loved one doesn't make losing them any easier. Just ask one of Moore's closest friends of 46 years, Larry Gates.
"I got the call from Stephene this morning and it's... I mean it's rough. We were all so very fond of him," said Gates, who saw Moore for the last time three weeks ago.
In what Gates calls a blessing, they were able to talk for more than an hour.
"I was surprised because Stephene said, 'You're probably only going to get 20 minutes out of him,' because he lost a lot of weight and was not doing well physically for the first time," Gates said.
Moore, a Democrat, was elected to represent his district in Congress six times from 1999 to 2008.
READ | Democrat, Republican leaders react to Moore's passing
Though known as a Blue Dog, Moore had a gift for relationships and working with politicians across party lines.
"He was the one that could be the moderate Democrat who could get elected, and would get elected, and so many of my friends who are not Democrats were very supportive of him in the years," Gates said.
Moore served as a captain in the United States Intelligence Corps and in the United States Army Reserve.
As a veteran, some of the legislation he was proudest of included a law requiring the federal government to pay for active-duty military members' flights home, and an increase in the death benefit for families of fallen soldiers from $12,000 to $100,000.
Moore was also active in serving his local community as Johnson County district attorney, targeting violence against women and children with the establishment of SafeHome, a place for women experiencing domestic violence.
He was also a trustee of Johnson County Community College for two four-year terms.
Moore was less than a week shy of his 76th birthday on Nov. 8.
He resided at Prairie Elder Care in Overland Park for the last three years of his life.
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