Eulogy for Stevens Spencer Moore

Delivered May 27, 2014 at 11:00 am

Service Written and Performed by the Rev. Shannon Fisher

 

AMAZING GRACE (song)

 

Let us pray

Dear God, we are here this morning to celebrate the life of Stevens Spencer Moore and his entrance into your heavenly home.  Please be with us today as we bid a fond farewell to Steve here on Earth, and help us honor the life he lived. Please give comfort to the Moores as they grieve the loss of their beloved family member.  We thank you for the gift of Steve’s life, and we ask that you cradle him in your loving arms, as he is now returned to you.

 

Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

 

It is a great honor for me to be here today to talk about Steve Moore.  I’ve known him for almost 20 years, and I knew him well.  Steve earned great admiration from many people. Throughout the years, I’ve seen the positive impact he has made on the lives of the people around him.

 

On behalf of Skeets, Jessica, Neal, Lindsey and Miro, I would like to thank you all for your unconditional support of Steve.  He was a loved and respected man, and it was his connections with people that made life so special for him. We are here today to honor those connections and say, “So long,” but not goodbye, to our dear brother, Steve.

 

We are all at different stages in our journey through life, our paths are varied, and we look at life in different ways.  But there is one thing we all have in common: at some point, to some degree, our lives and Steve’s have intersected.

 

Revelations 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

Steve is now with Dale.  And he is with Wilma.  He died peacefully in his sleep, and we are thankful for that.  He didn’t suffer.  And his last evening was spent with loved ones.  While Steve is no longer with us in his Earthly body, we can celebrate the fact that he was in our lives; it was a privilege to have known him.

 

Steve was an adventurous man.  He traveled the world, slept inside the pyramids in Egypt, had great professional success in Hollywood – and throughout it all, he maintained extremely close ties with loved ones.

 

People come and go in our lives, but very few leave an indelible mark.  Steve left an impression on everyone he met.  He was always jovial and wore a smile, even when times were rough.  He warm, loving and compassionate.  He had a huge heart and a deep understanding of human nature.  He brought joy to every single person he encountered
With Steve, you could always have interesting and lively conversation.  He was a wonderful storyteller; the way he could recount details and explain the nuances of situations and personalities with a comic twist was a very special talent.   He could magically weave just about any situation into a story – one that would either make you laugh or cry, often both.  There has been a lot of laughter in the Moore family, and a lot of tragedy, as well.

 

The Moores are as close a family as I have ever seen.  Steve’s bond with his family was forged when he was a child working at the Dairy Hart with Dale, Skeets and Wilma.  Through this, Steve and Dale learned the value of hard work and combining energies into a positive cause.  Skeets, Wilma, Dale and Steve had a lasting bond that is rarely seen in any family.  As crazy as things are in the world – no matter what was happening – the four of them were as close as a family could be.  And these bonds are unbroken, even in death.

 

And then there was one.  I think everyone in this room has a heartache not only for the loss of Steve, but for the grief that Skeets is feeling as the lone survivor of this impenetrable clan.  I don’t think any of us can imagine the turmoil he is feeling right now at the loss of the final member of his immediate family.

 

No man expects to bury his wife and both of his sons.  Skeets needs us right now, so I’d like to ask everyone in the family, and in the community, to make a promise to drop in on Skeets, call to check on him, invite him out to lunch or dinner and include him in group activities.  This man is very loved, and I hope we can all show him that love in the months to come as he adjusts to what must feel for him like a very unnatural new normal.  Skeets, please know that Steve, Wilma and Dale are with you always and surrounding you with love.

 

When the family was together, Steve loved to lie in bed and watch movies with his mother.  They could do that for hours, talking and enjoying the show.  He loved going around town with Skeets, shopping for things to send to Gabi or grabbing a Special at Ruben’s.  With Dale, he loved to make art and play music.  They could harmonize anything together – and that is a good metaphor for the Moore family in general.

 

A new generation of Moores are now adults, and some of their qualities are immensely similar to those of the older generation.  Neal carries on the creativity in art, wood carvings and music.  Jessica is very strong, and she is the glue that holds everyone together.  Lindsey has the deep, strong emotions that are so endearing in the Moore family.  And Skeets carries all the memories.  Decades and decades of times gone by, all in his mind’s eye.

 

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted

 

Those of you who are struggling with Steve’s death, I urge you to talk about your feelings, talk about Steve – lean on one another.  We are all in this life together, and we need to rely on each other for support and comfort.  Be glad that you took the opportunity to do some of your grieving in the presence of others who have also known and loved Steve.

 

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.

 

One of Steve’s favorite songs was Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Steve is flying away from us into the sky, going beyond the rainbow into the land of God.  Think of his spirit soaring as you listen to the lyrics.  I hope whenever you hear this song, you will be reminded of Steve and smile.

 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW (song)

 

Psalm 23: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

John 5: 24-25:  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

God’s love is the purest form of love.  It is merciful, welcoming and forgiving. Steve is reunited with God now – in body, mind and spirit, he is perfect in every way.

 

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

We all have our own path to follow in life, and Steve forged his own way while following his dreams.  He LIVED life and made the most of every moment.  He moved to Los Angeles with musical talent and a dream of seeking fame and fortune – and he found it in short order.  Starting as a piano player at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, Steve very quickly turned that gig into into a stellar career in performing comedy.  His jokes during his musical interludes were so entertaining that they gave him an act of his own.  He toured the country and made audiences laugh for many years, ultimately being asked to do a groundbreaking special on HBO called Drop Dead Gorgeous, which was critically acclaimed and is still played to this day.

 

Steve was very well liked and revered by those in the entertainment industry.  He maintained longstanding friendships with people with whom he worked more than thirty years ago, and he continued to build a circle of friends in Theatre until the day he died.  Facebook was one of his favorite past times because it kept him in touch with people across the country or across the oceans.

 

Lois Bromfield, Steve’s ex-wife, is in Germany and unable to be here tonight, but she sent me a few sentences to say on her behalf:  I met Steve in 1979 when I arrived at The Comedy Store in LA. He was the piano player who played the comics on and off stage, often with an introduction that was funnier than the comic’s bit. Steve and I became friends fast, not because we are both gay, but we just clicked. Steve had this effect on so many… you fell in love with this guy right away. We were married in 1980 – a business arrangement that quickly became a real marriage – or should I say what a marriage should be: relentlessly loyal, devoted, sincere, and committed to always be there for each no matter what life brings. And this is what we did for more than 35 years. When Steve found out he was HIV positive, he thought he would not see 40. For the next twenty years Steve fought the battle to live, and live he did. He was always there for his friends and family. I am truly heartbroken to have to say goodbye to this beautiful man who made added so much my life. I will always love and miss you, Steve. I wish you a safe passage my dearest companion. ~ Lois

 

Steve’s favorite phrase was, “Life is good.”  It is even engraved on his headstone.  He was full of life, and he is just as full of life today as he was when he walked here on Earth with us – his life is now eternal.

 

Though he was taken from us too soon, he beat the odds.  He was diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s and stayed healthy and strong for decades – ultimately being taken by something completely unrelated to the disease.  His heart gave out.  His body was weak.  It was time for him to return home and let his spirit run free from the confines of his physical body.  We commit Steve’s spirit to God, and may he forever rest in God’s loving hands and peace in this wonderful world.

 

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD (song)

 

It is important that we cherish our memories of Steve.  In time, they fade and morph – leaving only the most memorable details – but Steve Moore was unforgettable.  Steve was true to himself and followed his dreams.  His was a life well lived. Knowing he was loved, admired and respected was the fuel that kept him going.  He brought joy into lives and warmed hearts that were hurting.  May the Lord bless and keep him and be gracious unto him and give him peace.

Always the performer, Steve looked to his audience for applause.  I’d like to ask that we all stand up right now and give Steve Moore one last resounding standing ovation.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Steve Moore…