This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Moore, Senft, Page Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5046/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Jim J. Moore, "JJ" was finally defeated in his long match against Parkinson's disease on November 14, 2010. JJ was always a tough competitor and possessed skills that helped him become one of the highest ranked tennis players in the southwest and a golfer that could play with the best of them. Jim, the beloved son of Edna Senft Page (deceased at age 102), was born in Harrison, Arkansas on January 31, 1935. As a youth, JJ was a responsible, well-liked student, earning him the honor of being chosen to represent his high school at Arkansas' Boy's State. He excelled in athletics, "lettering" in several sports and was a talented writer. He graduated from Harrison High School in 1953. After graduation JJ attended Arkansas State Teacher's College for two years. There he received an "A" in slide rule and Mechanical Drawing. He then went on to attend the University of Arkansas and Southern Methodist University >From April 1958 to October 1958, JJ did his military basic training. He was honorably released from active duty and became a National Guard reservist. He served for several years and enjoyed telling stories about the fun they had at Reserve Training each summer in Louisiana. Sometime in 1960 JJ and his mom moved to Las Cruces. JJ worked for a private contractor documenting the modifications to the White Sands Missile Range radar and optics electronics. In 1967 JJ went to an island in the Pacific called Kwajalein, one of the Marshall Islands, and continued to work in electronics and design from 1967 to 1973. He loved working on Kwaj and again had great stories to tell of his "resort type" living on the island. Golfing, basketball and fast pitch softball filled much of his time, but it was on Kwaj that he discovered his true love, tennis, when he lived right next door to the courts. Upon his return from the island, JJ became a tennis aficionado extraordinaire. He lived and breathed tennis. He traveled all over the southwest playing tournaments and soon became one of the top-ranked tennis players in the southwest as witnessed by the hundreds of trophies that lined his walls. His home became a base-camp for many tennis players, old and young, as he rented his spare room to the NMSU Tennis Team players and always had a match on the TV that would draw your attention and force you to sit awhile. You never knew who might run into at JJ's as tennis players came and went all day long. He strung rackets to support his tennis habit and kept detailed notes on the string type, tensions and dates that he strung. The players loved this and for a long while he was the best stringer in town. Every tennis player knew JJ. JJ continued to play tennis as long as his body would allow and was active in Senior Olympics. Many of us remember when his shoulder began to give him trouble and he suddenly became "Lefty Moore". When his knees finally gave out, he went back to playing golf, buying a lifetime membership at the NMSU course. That year, in an effort to get his "monies worth" he played golf almost every single day of the year, missing only three days. At times, many of us envied the life he led. JJ will be remembered for his quick wit, his friendship, his ability to fix anything, his indescribable driving techniques and so much more. There will be no services. A few years ago we had a party to honor JJ, he was there with us to share in the stories, laugh with us and know that he was loved. If you would like to make a contribution in JJ's name, you might consider donating to the Las Cruces Tennis Association or towards the fight against Parkinson's disease. As one friend said, "Along with JJ goes a remnant of a time planted hard in my memory in which tennis racquets, strings, scrape tape and plastic trophies played a big part." Thanks for the memories JJ and get those courts ready for us, we'll be seeing you in the next round. Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on December 22, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.