Norman K. Moore

Norman Kaye (Sam) Moore, 88, of Prairie Village, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home in the Mission Chateau Community on March 12, 2026.

Born in Holton, Kansas, on March 23, 1937, to Harry and Jetta Moore, Sam grew up on the family farm alongside his five siblings, Nancy, Jarry, Marion, Bryce, and Becky. He attended Carbon Grade School and graduated from Holton High School in 1955, where he played football and basketball, participated in 4-H, and enjoyed fishing and baseball. He went on to earn a degree in business administration from Kansas State University in 1959, during which time he served as president of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and spent a summer fighting wildfires in Alaska. It was at K-State that he met the love of his life, Carolyn deAnn Johnston.

After graduation, Sam married DeAnn in April 1960. The couple settled first in Garden City, Kansas, where he began his career with Mobil Oil Corporation, later advancing to Midwest regional sales manager in Denver. He subsequently worked as a sales manager for Prentice Hall Publishing before relocating to Kansas City to be closer to family, joining Calvin Communications Productions. In 1975, Sam discovered his true professional calling in residential real estate. He began with Hal Hulen and Associates, founded his own firm, Sam Moore and Company Realtors, in 1981, and later merged with Reece and Nichols, where he continued as a partner until retirement.

Sam and DeAnn were deeply devoted to Kansas State University, serving as generous donors and active members of the KSU Presidents Club, Ahearn Club, Land Grant Society, and the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. A lifelong Kappa Sigma member, he was inducted into the Gamma Chi Chapter Hall of Fame. He was also a longtime member of Village Presbyterian Church. In retirement, Sam cherished traveling the world with DeAnn, attending Kansas State football games as season ticket holders for 25 years, and participating in Kansas City Cat Backers. He loved planning family trips with his sons and grandchildren, fishing, and following sports.

Sam was a dedicated and loving husband, father, and grandfather who lived by the core values instilled in him during his rural upbringing. Known for his outgoing personality, sincerity, and kind spirit, he rarely complained and always sought to lift others up. He is survived by his sons, David J. Moore of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Derek E. Moore (Jennifer) of Roeland Park, Kansas, as well as his sisters Becky Moore (Stauffer) of Topeka, Kansas, and Marion Moore of Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife DeAnn and his siblings Bryce Moore, Nancy Schirmer Moore, and Jarry Moore.