Jack Moore's Obituary
The viewing for Jack Moore will be held on Wednesday September 6, 2023, from 4:00pp-8:00pm. Funeral services will take place on Thursday September 7, 2023, at 11:30am.
Celebration of Life
When I tell you my father was my hero, my inspiration and that I am a daddy’s girl, please believe me. He was the light of my life, my strength, and he loved everyone he met and no one was ever a stranger…
Jack Gordon Moore, was born in Dallas Texas on April 28, 1937, to the union of Clifton D. Moore and Stella C. Moore. He was the oldest and the only male of three children. Jack attended elementary school in Palm Springs, California. Later the family moved to Oakland California where he attended Lowell Jr High and McClymonds High School (Mack). Not only was he a smart student, in high school he played football, baseball, the saxophone and was named the “King” of the Mambo Dance Sessions because his dance moves were so smooth.
After graduating from high school, he worked in Alameda California on Bay Farm Island as a vegetation truck loader.
A few years later, he started another job at the Oakland Cannery. On June 1, 1959, Jack was hired as a Warehouseman at H.C. Capwell’s Distribution Center located in the West Oakland. Years later, he was promoted to the Warehouse Manager.
During his tenure, he and his co-workers collectively decided they would recommend and hire men and women who needed jobs from their community who wouldn’t normally be considered for hire. So they came up with a plan and started hiring people during a time when good jobs were less plentiful to persons of color. Their plan was a huge success. His co-workers gave him the name of “Big Jack” because of his height and his slender 6’7’ build. He was also affectionately known to his co-workers as “Hat Jack” because he wore bucket hats every single day. His coworker Claire Rivas was an artist and at every opportunity he had, he drew numerous cartoon caricatures of the gentle giant who always towered over everyone. Just as he was tall, he was kind, approachable and always had a big smile on his face.
In 1960, he met and married Emma Lee Perry. Jack joyfully welcomed & loved his blended family and was a wonderful stepfather to Francine, Margaret, Marsha, Donna, Wanda & Veronna. In 1962, Jack & Emma Lee welcomed a baby girl who they named Robin Joyce. He loved and adored his blended grandsons, Daylon, Theron, LaShawn, Ken, Ramone, Lil Jack, Andre and the only girl Amber. He was affectionately known as “Papa”.
After enjoying years of bliss, cooking and having countless hosted holiday gatherings, travelling and raising their family, Emma Lee became ill and sadly passed away peacefully in Oakland in 1978. After her death, Jack moved to Berkeley California.
Years later, H.C. Capwell’s changed their name to Emporium Capwell’s. Rumors were swirling around regarding the closure of Emporium Capwell’s and this was a big deal. Although he was greatly saddened about the possibility of leaving his job, he met Sarah Mae Tinsley who worked at the Emporium’s downtown store in Oakland. She made him happy. After dating for several years, in 1984, they were married. Jack loved everything about Sarah Mae, especially her laid back personality. She referred to as him “Big Daddy” and he referred to her as “Big Mama”. He enjoyed life with Big Mama to the fullest and they spent many years attending gambling trips or traveling to Hawaii. At home, Jack loved playing music (the blues & jazz), dancing and Barbequing. It was his favorite pastime and he loved having family over so he could have a reason to cook on the grill. Just as his friend James Hadden said, “Jack would have those pots rumbling”.
Jack happily retired on April 1, 1993 before the Capwell's company was eventually acquired by Federated Department Store in 1995. After he retired, the travelling really begun for Jack & Sarah. Several times a year, they travelled to Hawaii, Reno & Alaska. They also went on many cruises. They enjoyed beautiful sceneries, good food (he LOVED food), music and being on the water and relaxing. During their travels, nobody was ever a stranger and he made many lasting friendships wherever they went. Robin and her father was really close and she travelled with them too. And when they weren’t travelling, Jack immensely enjoyed spending holiday’s at daughter Robin’s home. Robin cooked many
tasty dishes that Jack loved such as her delicious meatloaf with all the trimmings. His all‐time favorite was Robin’s famous seafood gumbo. Every year, he looked forward to having a big whopping bowl of gumbo, rice and crackers while listening to his favorite blues selections Robin would play for him. He was very proud of his baby girl’s accomplishments and her ongoing commitment to Christ, her sons, granddaughters, our family and to the troubled youth in her community. He was equally pleased that she had become the President of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), East Oakland/Hayward Section and being dedicated to helping women and their children in crisis. His last Casino Bus Trip was a fundraiser with NCNW Members to Thunder Valley. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and often spoke of the fun he had with the NCNW Members. He said “everyone was nice and was a lot of fun”.
My father, Jack, was an avid R.A.I.D.E.R.S fan and when he wasn’t at the game, you could find him yelling at the television as if the team and the coaches could hear him. He would then call me when they were losing and would say, “I can’t stand them darn Raiders”, they make me sick. You could hear Big Mama in the background saying, “Oh, Jack”. This went on for years, but he never stopped watching them. He loved watching the 49ers too and was definitely a “Bay Man”. In the year 2000, Robin took him to Candlestick Park to see the Raiders vs. 49er game. On the way there, the Bay Bridge came to a halt, and the Raiders & 49ers Fans got out of their cars and started dancing. My father looked at me and said, “You want to get out”? I said, “Let’s do it!”. So, we danced on the Bay Bridge along with the rest of the fans until traffic began to move. He was dressed in his leather 49er bomber jacket, and I was dressed in my Raider gear. My father loved football as much as he loved life. He was a true sports fanatic to the heart.
He loved his family very much. He enjoyed the holidays with his Mother, sisters, daughter, grandsons, nieces and nephews because that meant plenty of good food. One of my father’s favorite sayings was “don’t you chow down to hard”. That meant, don’t inhale the food as he often did. He was known for other classic sayings such as, “Ain’t nothing cooking but the beans in the pot, and they wouldn’t be cooking if the water wasn’t hot”, or “Ain’t nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees, and they wouldn’t be shaking if it wasn’t for the breeze”, or you can’t lose with the stuff you use”.
My father lived his life to the fullest with Sarah until their health began to decline. In 1990, Sarah suffered a Heart Attacked and through the blessings of God, she recovered however her health was never the same. It didn’t matter to Jack because he so loved Sarah. In May of 2014, he was diagnosed Hydrocephalus (Water on the brain). This injury was a direct result from falling and hitting his head. It changed how he walked, he had chronic headaches, nausea, and drowsiness. In April on 2014, he had VP Shunt Placement and the surgery was successful. He was able to walk again. On October 14, 2014 as my father walked inside the crosswalk to the Post Office in Berkeley California, he was hit by an Uber Driver who was texting and as a result, his left foot was severed. After multiple surgeries and rehabilitation, he was able to walk again with a cane. In 2016, both Jack and Sarah were in different hospitals suffering from a serious health crisis.
Although they would talk on the phone every day, they felt upset about not seeing each other. My father was released first to a local rehabilitation enter. I requested a meeting with the Director of the rehabilitation center hoping he would agree to having them in the same room when she was released from the hospital and he did. He also mentioned they were the first in history, at that location, to share the same room as a married couple. Pictures were taken by staff and there their stay there was historical. When I rolled Big Mama into their room two weeks later, they both screamed and started crying. What a beautiful moment that was.
On July 4, 2018, the love of his life Sarah passed away peacefully. He missed her terribly and not a day passed without him calling out her name.
After Big Mama’s passing, my father suffered from various health issues. He suffered congestive heart failure and years later in March of 2021, he suffered Cardiac Arrest and fiat lined while at the Cardiologist Office for testing. He fought long and hard to bounce back. During his recovery, his Doctors said he suffered only from short term memory lost, and in a couple of months, he would have 97 percent of his short term memory back. I noticed he could remember things that just occurred such as appointments, etc., and at that moment, he was headed back on track. Throughout all his battles with his health, he never lost his appetite!
Even though he had health issues, my father loved his outings with Lil Jack. When I had to work, be out of town or between caregivers, Lil Jack would graciously pick him up and take him to appointments, cruising in Papa’s and Big Mama’s Cadillac, listening to jazz or the blues and then go have a hamburger and fries. Other times, Lil Jack would stop by Papa’s to talk about repairs to the Cadillac and while there, Lil Jack would put some meat on the grill. When I would call to ask, “What are you guys doing?”, my father would say “We’re chilling.” Lil Jack’s mother, my sister Veronna, stayed with my father for 3 months, after her own heart surgery, to take care of him. Papa loved her being there for 24/7 because he knew he was in for some good cooking and head the company he longed for. He would always say, “She can get those pots going.” He was forever grateful to her for showing him that love and support.
My father, Jack, was affectionately known to his grandchildren as “Papa” and he adored them all. He had a special relationship with all of them and oh, what a proud grandfather was he was. He loved that Terrin & Jaylen had his height and big feet. He would always get so excited about visits from his first grandson Terrin, and his daughters Brooklynn & Khloe when they were in town. My father often acknowledged to Terrin that he was a great father and provider and to keep up the good work. He adored his great-granddaughters beauty, height and smarts. He was elated to learn Brooklynn was playing baseball & basketball. He once mentioned, “Brooklynn might make the pros”. He admired Khloe’s sweet & soft voice and enjoyed looking at her colorful pictures she would draw. He loved talking with Jaylen about his academic achievements, sports and his college plans. Before Jaylen would leave his home, he would always tell him, “I’m proud of you, son.”
He loved how Theron & LaShawn had strong personalities, he loved watching Kenton dance, Andre cracking jokes, Daylon for being quiet and observant, Ramon laughing at everyone getting in trouble and Amber making funny faces. He adored his nieces Sharon & Lynne and loved how they would make him laugh while describing a funny situation. He admired his nephews Leon and Anthony and always appreciated the time they spent with family during the holidays. He enjoyed his sister Jean calling him and saying “Hey Brah, how you doing?” He appreciated her calling and keeping him up to date on family news. Before his last surgery on August 7, 2023, he said to me, your dad is tired and he thanked me for always being with him. On August 11, 2023, he received his heavenly wings surrounded by his family.
He leaves to cherish his memory, Daughter Robin Moore & Veronna Simril, Sister Jean Thompson-Broach, Grandsons Terrin Jackson & Jaylen Jones, Great-Granddaughters Brooklynn & Khloe Jackson, Nieces Sharon Simpson & Lynne Martin, Olga/Camille Hunter, Nephews Leon Thompson & Stanley Hunter and a host of extended family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Sarah Mae Tinsley-Moore, Mother & Father C.D. Moore Stella C. Moore, Sister Barbara Martin, Nephew Anthony Thompson, Brother-In-Laws Vernal Martin & Floyd Broach and several other family beloved family members.
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