Behind the Headlines

By Paula Wethington / paula@monroenews.com

Reporter’s note: Lisa Moore, one of the characters, in the comic strip Funky Winkerbean by Tom Batiuk, has died of breast cancer. (See my earlier post, Funky Winkerbean fans: yes Lisa Moore is in her last days.)

I have written many obituaries during my career as a newspaper reporter. So as a tribute to one of my favorite comic strips, here is her fictional obituary with as much biographical information as I could pin down or reasonably guess at from the story line. Although I had to take literary license on some details, there really is a Lisa’s Legacy Fund in Cleveland named for the character Lisa Moore.

If you missed some of the recent installments and want to catch up on what happened to Lisa, Tom Batiuk’s latest book, “Lisa’s Story: The Other Shoe,” has been published by Kent State University Press and is available at amazon.com. The book release party will be Saturday Oct. 6 in Akron, Ohio. Details are posted at www.funkywinkerbean.com.

Lisa Crawford Moore

1970-2007

WESTVIEW, Ohio – Lisa Crawford Moore, 37, of Westview, died Thursday Oct. 4 at home while under the care of hospice.

Mrs. Moore had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. She went into remission, but the cancer returned in 2006.

Recently, she made national headlines by testifying in Washington, D.C., to Congress’s Health and Human Services Committee, on behalf of the One Voice Against Cancer campaign regarding the need for funding for cancer research.

Cremation has been held, per her request, under the arrangements of Tom Batiuk Funeral Home and Cremation Society. A memorial service and luncheon will be held Sunday at Montoni’s Pizza in Westview, where she had formerly been employed.

She was born in Akron, raised in Westview and attended Westview High School.

She lived in Seattle, Wash., for a time; and then worked as a tutor for American children in Martel, France.

She attended Westview County Community College. After earning her law degree from University of Akron, Mrs. Moore worked in the regional public defender’s office. Later, she ran a private law practice.

She was a fan of the Cleveland Browns football team. She also enjoyed reading superhero comic books and newspaper comics.

She was married in October 1996 in Westview to Leslie P. “Les” Moore.

Surviving are her husband; their daughter, Summer, at home; her son, Darin, who was adopted and raised by Fred and Ann (Randall) Fairgood; her parents; and many friends including Funky and Holly (Budd) Winkerbean.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lisa’s Legacy Fund at www.lisaslegacyfund.org or by mail to: Lisa’s Legacy Fund, University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center, PO Box 74947, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106.

On-line condolences may be made at www.funkywinkerbean.com