Eldridge Dennis Lilborn Moore, Jr, 70, of Sycamore, IL was born November 12, 1950 in Sycamore to Dorothy (née Winfrey) and Eldridge Dennis Moore, Sr. He passed away at home on Thursday, February 11, 2021 surrounded by his loving children and sister Dobora.

Dennis was educated in Sycamore from elementary through high school and also attended Kishwaukee Community College in Malta and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. In 1969 he earned Little 7 All-Conference honors in football and later played baseball for the Northern Illinois University Huskies.  In March, 1971, Dennis was drafted into the U.S. Army, earning the rank of Sergeant, before being honorably discharged in December, 1972.  His career educating and mentoring young people began in 1973 at Illinois Youth Center - Valley View, where he spent 29 years as a juvenile correctional officer and shift supervisor for the State of Illinois, before retiring in 2002.  He continued to mentor the community's youth as an educator for Kishwuakee Education Consortium, launching the school's chess club.

In 1977 he married the love of his life Laurell "Laurie" Marie Moore (née Schuck).  Together they raised three loving children Eldridge "Denny", Justin "J.R." and Tiffany; and also transformed their home into a loving space for kids throughout their community.  Dennis will always be remembered for his humor, his wit, his laugh and his ability to connect with people, especially as a baseball coach.  He was the life of the party, a man who always had a smile, a devoted husband and an amazingly proud father, who relished every opportunity to brag on his kids, especially in his later years.  He is dearly loved and will be intensely missed.

Dennis is survived by his children, Denny (Alissa), J.R. (Colleen), and Tiffany; his grandchildren Keira, Amelia, Suzanna, Cyrus, and Slater; his sisters Dobora "Debbie" Harper (née Moore) and Daphinee Richardson (née Moore); his mother-in-law, Loretta Schuck; his sister-in-law Cindy Schuck; his brothers-in-law, Leon Schuck and Kit (Terri) Schuck; his nieces and nephews, Ebony Beasley, Kirsten Schuck, Matthew (Stephanie) Schuck and Taylor Schuck.

He is now reunited with his wife Laurie, who preceded him in death this past December, and was also preceded by his father Eldridge, Sr. and his mother Dorothy.

There will be a public visitation held on Saturday, February 20 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Butala Funeral Homes & Crematory (1405 Dekalb Ave, Sycamore, IL, 60178), followed by a private Celebration of Life at 1:15 pm, which can be attended virtually via Zoom. For details please contact J.R. Moore at jrmoore141@gmail.com .

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Sycamore Park District's Leaf a Legacy campaign ( https://www.sycamoreparkdistrict.com/leafalegacy/ ).

To sign the online guest book or share a special memory, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com