April 3, 1930 - July 3, 2026
In the early hours of July 3rd, 2026, this world lost an angel.
It’s not every day that you meet someone as pure, positive, and uplifting as Dr. David L. Moore. Known by his family as “DD”, he inspired innumerable people and led an exemplary life for ninety-six incredible years. He was a faithful Christian, loyal husband, influential father, distinguished educator, doting grandfather, and loving friend and family man. He treasured his life and knew it was a gift to be alive.
David was born on April 3rd, 1930 in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, to David Lee Moore and Zula Mae Winslow. His childhood years were spent on a farm in Dow, Oklahoma, and later, the thriving railroad town of Haileyville, where he attended grade school and graduated from Haileyville High. David had a fondness for home and many treasured memories. He often recounted games with his sister ‘Mim’ in which they would recite memorized bible scriptures and recalled his mom teaching them “right and wrong.” In one of many self published memoirs, David noted that his mom “…told me in no uncertain terms, what she expected of me, but convinced me she would love me no matter what I did.” He also recalled his mother saying, “Let others see Jesus in you.” This undoubtedly shaped who David was and fostered his ability to love unconditionally, as he exemplified those values throughout his life.
David graduated high school early at the age of sixteen as valedictorian. He went on to attend Oklahoma State University, where he received his undergraduate degree in Biological Science. He then taught biology and chemistry at Wilburton High School in Wilburton, OK, until he was old enough to attend dental school, and received his D.D.S. in 1955 from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry. During his time in dental school, he was elected President of the Sophomore Class, was a member of both Psi Omega and the national dental honor society Omicron Kappa Upsilon, and received many scholarship awards. He was subsequently licensed with both the Missouri and Kansas Dental Boards.
David had the honor of serving in the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1955 as part of the Senior Dental Student Program. He recalled fond memories of his time spent as Dental Officer in Anchorage, Alaska, and as Dental Commander in Naknek. He recounted salmon fishing trips and driving the base ambulance to the local Lutheran church on Sundays. He later served as a Base Oral Surgeon in Sherman, Texas, and received an honorable discharge in 1965 before starting a family the following year.
The year 1958 marked the official start of David’s academic career at UMKC School of Dentistry. During his early years at UMKC, David was an Assistant Professor in the Crown and Bridge Department, Teaching Fellow, and eventually, Associate Professor. Most notable was his time as Professor and Chairman of both Departments of Operative and Restorative Dentistry for a combined thirty-one years. Serving as Chairman Emeritus, Professor Emeritus, and as a consultant, he continued to have a decorated, illustrious, and distinguished career that spanned fifty years.
During his career, he continued to further his education by earning his Masters of Science and Masters of Arts degrees. He earned countless awards and was recognized at the highest degree among his colleagues. David was awarded Instructor of the Year and Outstanding Instructor for three and four years, respectively. He was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who in the Midwest American Men of Science and Who’s Who in American Education. He was the recipient of the First Annual University of Missouri - Kansas City Board of Trustees Faculty Fellowship Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Recognition Award by the American Dental Association, and the Elmer Pearson Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. David’s legacy became institutional. In his honor, UMKC established the David L. Moore Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes instructors who uphold his standards and embody his exceptional teaching qualities.
David touched the lives of numerous students and patients. As said by Peter Strople, “Legacy is not leaving something for people, it’s leaving something in people.” Those that knew Dr. David were left forever inspired.
David’s incredible career included many achievements, but his greatest masterpiece was the life and family he built alongside his wife of sixty-four years, Mary “Janell” Stewart, who he adored deeply. They had a storybook life and an exemplary marriage. Their courtship began because Dr. Moore was brave enough to pass Janell, then a dental hygiene student, a prescription he’d written for a date with him “PRN”. Suffice it to say, his bold and clever attempt worked.
Janell and David were the best of friends and cemented that friendship by joining each other in marriage on September 7th, 1962.
The couple would go on to live in Kansas City, MO and later Shawnee, KS. They were very devout Christians serving as longtime members of Broadway Baptist and later Nall Avenue Baptist churches. David was passionate about his faith and spent many years teaching Sunday School and singing in the church choir.
Above all, David was a loving and doting father and grandfather. David and Janell have two sons, David Lee and Andrew, who they love dearly. David was very involved in his sons’ lives and in the lives of his grandchildren. He believed that charity started at home, and that family and faith were at the center of all lives well lived. David always believed and encouraged that anything that could be conceived could be achieved.
David took joy in little pleasures. He believed in choosing the bright side, speaking only kindly of others, and choosing faith and joy daily. He could fix anything, never met a dessert he didn’t like, and loved taking pictures. He was the unofficial family historian and wrote myriad memoirs of his own life.
David was preceded in death by his parents, David and Zula Moore; and his sisters, Moorene Moore and Mary Lee Gossett. He is survived by his wife, Janell Moore; sons David Lee Moore and Andrew Moore, D.D.S.; daughters-in-law Stephanie and Christen Moore; grandchildren Jack, Katie, and Eli Moore; niece, SarahLee Gossett-Parrish; great-niece, Caroline Stanley and her husband Lane Stanley, and great-great-niece, Charlotte Stanley.
The words Dr. David hung in his office served as a blueprint for how he lived his life. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7
