Whitney Moore

Whitney Allyson (Gertzen) Moore

Family and friends will gather at 10 a.m. March 16 at Camelback Christian Church (6235 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251) to honor, remember and celebrate the life of Whitney Allyson Moore.

Whitney, a fierce, proud and capable woman with a deep caring spirit and a big, loving heart, died January 21, 2024.

Born in Denver, Colorado, in May 1970, to Michele Sanders and Josef Gertzen, Whitney quickly showed her mindset of independence and determination she would carry through the rest of her life.

She later moved with her family to Dallas, Texas, graduating in 1988 from Lake Highlands High School and studying at the University of North Texas.

In the early 1990s, she married Thurmond Moore and, as Thurmond’s college and professional football coaching career took them to different cities around the country and around the world, she lived in places such as Fort Collins, Colorado, Syracuse and Buffalo, New York, London, Amsterdam, and Phoenix, Arizona.

Caleb and Avery

In 1999, Caleb was born, and Avery in 2002. Whitney loved her boys with her full heart, and enjoyed sharing with others about how they were advancing their education and careers. She also always took an interest in the families of friends and co-workers by asking how their kids were doing, looking at pictures and listening to stories.

A "Mama Heart" for others

Whitney found purpose in caring for others. She trained as a Certified Nursing Assistant and later as an Occupational Therapy Technician. Whitney was a PCA (Patient Care Assistant) at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix for the past 10 years in Women & Infants Services.

Her co-workers described Whitney as having a “Mama heart” for the way she watched out for members of her team and for patients. She looked after her team’s younger nurses and technicians, making sure they received the support and care they needed. She was a true friend, always ready to offer a listening ear or hug, and often checking in on her colleagues on their days off to make sure they were doing ok.

The pride she took in her work showed in the skillful care and compassion each of her patients received. She was often drawn to those who came with extra challenges such as drug addiction or mental health conditions. Whitney became their fierce advocate, and often earned their trust with her no-nonsense attitude, respectful care and friendly smile.

Her family and friends plan to gather in Arizona on March 16 to remember and celebrate the life of the mother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, friend and co-worker who made this world better with her special gift of authenticity, kindness and the ability to make others feel genuinely seen and loved.

She is survived by her sons Caleb, who lives in Georgia, and Avery, who is serving in the U.S. Army, her brother Ian Gertzen, who lives in Iowa, her brother Jason Gertzen, who lives in Connecticut, with his wife, Becky, and Whitney’s niece Megan and nephew Matthew, her boyfriend Scott Alfred and many friends.