A. L. Moore & Sons

Mortuary 1906-1996

by Posey Moore Nash

"A Family Helping Families Since 1906" In 1904 Albert Lincoln Moore, a Pennsylvania native, came to Tempe to set up a furniture-making shop. He found himself taking more orders for caskets than anything else, and switched professions two years later, in 1906. His first mortuary, a joint venture with A.H. McLellan, was located on Adams Street between Central & First Avenue. In 1909, they opened a facility at the 4th Avenue site, where it remained fully operational for nearly 90 years. McLellan opened at another location, and Moore brought his two sons Harold and A.Lee, into run the business with him. A.L.Moore & Sons was recognized as one of the nations finest examples of a completely modern mortuary. They had the first funeral car in Arizona, (a model T) the first auto ambulance service, and initiated the state's first air-ambulance service in the 1950's. Families served ranged from governors, to the victim' s of Winnie Ruth Judd, chewing gum magnate P.K. Wrigley, the Phoenix Chinese community, members of every faith and every walk of life. In the casket selection room, in the lowest priced casket was a sign that read, "If the cost of this casket and the price of the funeral service is too much, please speak to us." Every family was provided dignity, no matter the cost. Lee ran the operation until his son, Al joined him in 1951 and they operated together until Lee's death in 1974. Al was subsequently joined in the business by a fourth generation his son, A.LeeIII, and daughter Posey. Due to a great and caring staff the Moore's took active roles in the community serving on many boards such as Arizona Public Service, the Barrow Board, the Phoenix Thunderbird's, Rotary 100,the Elks, National Selected Mortician's, Jr. League of Phoenix, St. Luke's Board of Visitor's, and the Arizona Funeral Director's Association. In the late 1980's the family sold the mortuary to Service Corporation International, but retained the property and building at 4th Avenue and Adams. In 1996 the City of Phoenix condemned the location to make room for the nine-story Phoenix Municipal Court, leaving the business 'homeless' but the court house probably 'haunted.'

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