Frederic Elvin Moore

Frederic “Fred” Elvin Moore was born on February 14, 1956, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Winthrop Henry Moore of Troy, New York, and Ruthe Burgoyne Moore of Clinton, Massachusetts. His childhood carried him through Brookfield, Missouri, and Wichita, Kansas, where he graduated from Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School and discovered the joy of acting and singing in school productions, a spark of performance that stayed with him throughout his life.

From his earliest years, Fred revealed a natural gift for drawing, turning every restaurant paper placemat into a canvas for whatever image arose in his imagination. At fourteen, he earned a statewide first prize for a textile design that showed just how original his eye already was. He grew into a skilled painter of acrylics and oils, often returning to Frank Sinatra as his favorite subject, capturing the singer’s presence with a reverence that mirrored his own love of music. Fred’s appreciation for the arts stretched across genres and eras, embracing everything from classic standards to modern sounds, always listening with curiosity and delight.

In the days when encyclopedias were treasured in the home, Fred became one of Collier’s best salesmen, and in doing so he educated himself on countless subjects that fed his lifelong hunger for knowledge. He explored religions, ancient civilizations, astronomy, space travel, and martial arts, always seeking to understand the world more deeply. His faith was steady and sincere, and he often used the prayer Our Father as a form of meditation, a way to center himself in quiet devotion.

From his mother, Fred inherited a passion for good food and the skill to create it. He perfected his great grandmother’s banana bread recipe, gifting it generously to friends, family, and even the Sisters of Saint Teresa in Oklahoma City, who cherished the kindness behind every loaf. His eight-hour homemade spaghetti sauce rivaled the finest Italian restaurants, and his Caesar salad, learned as a young man at the neighborhood Steak n Ale, became one of his signature dishes.

Fred spent meaningful chapters of his life in Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado before returning to Oklahoma City, where he cooked and cared for his mother in the years following her retirement until her passing. During these years and beyond, he shared a deep and enduring companionship with his beloved companion, Charlie Durae of Farmington, New Mexico, whose presence brought comfort, steadiness, and warmth to his life. Their bond, shaped by affection and mutual understanding, remained one of the quiet constants in Fred’s journey.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sons, Joshua Skye Moore, spouse Anji Moore, and grandsons Nathan and Luke of Houston, Texas, as well as his son Kris Durae of New Mexico. He is also survived by his daughter Melina Meinhardt of Wichita, Kansas. Fred’s sister Jo Heckman, partner Bruce Campbell, and Jo’s son Zachary Heckman, spouse Robyn Heckman, and their children Tatum and husband Brian To and Zachary II, all of Kansas City, Missouri, also survive him. His youngest sister Elizabeth Jane Moore and her spouse Elizabeth Haran Caplan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma remain to honor his memory, along with their son Brandon, daughter in law Salam Tessema, and grandchildren Zerai and Adal of Portland, Oregon.

Fred’s life was shaped by creativity, curiosity, and a deep love for family. He moved through the world with an artist’s eye, a seeker’s mind, and a heart that gave freely. His legacy lives on in the art he made, the meals he cooked, the knowledge he pursued, and the love he shared with everyone fortunate enough to know him, and he will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 18th from 10am to 6pm at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home, 14624 N. May Ave, Oklahoma City, followed by a prayer service with the family from 6-7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am Saturday, September 19th at St. Eugene Catholic Church, 2400 W. Hefner Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73120 Burial will be next to his parents at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, 7400 W. Britton Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73132

Links to live streaming of both services are below.

Mass Livestream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCmnHpaDSZuge_FqqnnAfEVw/featured