LeRoy Gene Moore, beloved husband, father, grandfather and coach.

Coach Gene Moore, 88, of Vancouver, Washington, died of natural causes on Easter Sunday.

Leroy Gene was born to Roy and Roberta Moore on Dec. 17, 1934 in Chehalis, Washington. He grew up in Mossyrock, Washington where he played football and basketball, ran track, and was student body president.  

Gene attended LaVerne College in California where he was the quarterback for the football team and eventually played semi-pro football for the Orange County Rhinos. He was drafted into the Korean War where he served as a medic, delivering three babies and driving for a General.  

Five years later, he and Joan Peggy Taranto met and then eloped on Jan. 29, 1966 to the Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas. They had four children during their 57-year marriage.

Gene’s career included teaching and coaching in Moorpark, California, Prineville, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. He retired after nearly 30 years in the Evergreen School District positively influencing students and athletes through his jobs at Covington Junior High, Wy’East Junior High and Evergreen High school. For 20 years, Gene scouted for the professional football team the Raiders. 

In retirement, Papa Gene liked to spend time with six his grandchildren; was an avid reader; and enjoyed fishing and hunting. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan; his children Melissa, Ken, Steve and Ryan, and their spouses Todd, Karen and Jamie; his grandchildren Jena, Braden, CJ, Chase, Mia and Riley; and by his siblings Jim Moore, MaryLou Grimsted, Beverly McKinney and David Moore.